Compare towns

Amboy vs Java vs Pike vs Seneca

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amboy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Pike has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureAmboyJavaPikeSeneca
People
Population
1,286
2,049
812Lowest
2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-12.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.8%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40±10.2Lowest
about the NY average
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
48.3±4.4Highest
21% above NY
44.5±6.2
12% above NY
Pike and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24.5%±5.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
17.6%±4.2Lowest
NY: 20.5%
19.5%±3.9
NY: 20.5%
Amboy and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.8%±3.2Lowest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
25.2%±6Highest
NY: 17.9%
22.3%±4.5
NY: 17.9%
Pike and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
9.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
15.1%
NY: 40.2%
22.1%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.1Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
2.8%±2.3
NY: 7%
2.2%±1.4
NY: 7%
Java and Pike are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,234±$17kLowest
24% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$71,250±$11k
17% below NY
$90,658±$21k
5% above NY
Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$124,800±$21kLowest
71% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$129,100±$18k
70% below NY
$192,700±$9k
55% below NY
Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$944±$65
42% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$810±$762Lowest
50% below NY
$1,549±$420Highest
4% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,243
51% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$2,947
55% below NY
$2,810Lowest
57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.6%±36
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
83.7%±13.7Highest
NY: 52.1%
7.2%±24.9
NY: 52.1%
Pike and Amboy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.7%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
9%
NY: 14%
6.2%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
80.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
91.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
28 yrs newer than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1965
6 yrs newer than NY
1945Lowest
14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
4% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
22 minLowest
33% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
Work from home
2.9%±2.1
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
2.5%±1.7Lowest
NY: 14.9%
10.9%±3.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.