Compare towns
Arcade vs Java vs Seneca vs Tupper Lake
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%).
Tupper Lake has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Tupper Lake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,210 |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
5,104Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-13.8%Lowest 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 |
47.7±4.7Highest 20% above NY |
| Tupper Lake and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18.8%±3.4 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% |
25.5%±4.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Tupper Lake 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% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Java 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 |
$65,433±$11k 24% 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±$15k 61% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$151,300±$29kLowest 64% 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±$152 50% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$793±$119Lowest 51% 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 |
$3,670 44% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±13.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
24.1%±9.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Arcade and Tupper Lake 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% |
17.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
71.6%Lowest 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 |
1958 1 yr older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
15 minLowest 55% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.1%±3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.7%±4.6 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 | — | — | #459 of 484 in NY |
| School district | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | NYS OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES · TUPPER LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | TUPPER LAKE MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.1 |
| 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.