Compare towns

Auburn vs Java vs Sennett vs Melrose Park

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Auburn has the most renters (51.4% rent).
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Sennett has the most expensive homes ($279k median).
Melrose Park has the most people working from home (11.8%).

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.

MeasureAuburnJavaSennettMelrose Park
People
Population
26,285Highest
2,049
3,264
1,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-8.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-6.7%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
41.1±1.1Lowest
3% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
47.6±4.2Highest
20% above NY
45.3±8.1
14% above NY
Sennett and Melrose Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±1.7Lowest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7Highest
NY: 20.5%
19.4%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
19.6%±7.7
NY: 20.5%
Java and Melrose Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±1.9
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6Lowest
NY: 17.9%
24.7%±4.3
NY: 17.9%
24.9%±5Highest
NY: 17.9%
Melrose Park and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%
NY: 40.2%
35.4%
NY: 40.2%
50.8%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±0.7
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
1.8%±1.5
NY: 7%
1.5%±2.2Lowest
NY: 7%
Java and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,052±$5kLowest
41% below NY
$95,129±$24k
11% above NY
$101,585±$18k
18% above NY
$103,723±$11kHighest
21% above NY
Melrose Park and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$152,800±$9kLowest
64% below NY
$223,900±$30k
47% below NY
$279,300±$33kHighest
34% below NY
$224,400±$17k
47% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$897±$50
45% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$978±$217Highest
40% below NY
—
Sennett and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,998
39% below NY
$3,775Lowest
43% below NY
$5,397Highest
18% below NY
$4,902
26% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±7.8Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
49%±36.7
NY: 52.1%
17.9%±48.4
NY: 52.1%
Auburn and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.5%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
5.1%
NY: 14%
6.1%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
48.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
91.2%
NY: 54.3%
93.7%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
12 yrs older than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1973Highest
14 yrs newer than NY
1955
4 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
40% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
21 min
36% below NY
26 min
21% below NY
Work from home
5.7%±1.8Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
8.5%±3.9
NY: 14.9%
11.8%±7Highest
NY: 14.9%
Melrose Park 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 #374 of 484 in NY — — —
School district AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) —
High school in town AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL — HARRIET TUBMAN RESIDENTIAL CENTER —
Students per teacherat that high school
13.8
— — —
On TownTapestry
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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.