Compare towns
Arcade vs Java vs Seneca vs Sheldon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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.
| Measure | Arcade | Java | Seneca | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,210Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 46±3.7 16% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.6% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,011±$8kLowest 28% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below 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 | $163,900±$15kLowest 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% 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 | $813±$152Lowest 50% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84 50% below NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,172Highest 37% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.