Compare towns
Arcade vs Central Square vs Java 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
Arcade has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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.
| Measure | Arcade | Central Square | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,915Lowest |
2,163 |
2,049 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.7±4.6Highest 12% above NY |
43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Arcade and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5% NY: 40.2% |
26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,695±$4kLowest 32% below NY |
$69,500±$23k 19% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above 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 | $172,300±$19kLowest 59% below NY |
$196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $805±$176Lowest 50% below NY |
$908±$91 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 40% below NY |
$5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±14 NY: 52.1% |
44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest NY: 14% |
15.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
54.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 14% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Central Square and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #260 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| 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.