Compare towns
Barre vs Champion 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
Barre has the most affordable homes ($136k median).
Champion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.5%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
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.
| Measure | Barre | Champion | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,910Lowest |
4,530Highest |
2,049 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.2±6.7Highest 14% above NY |
40±3Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Barre and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Barre and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.8 NY: 17.9% |
17%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.2% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Java and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,906±$14k 14% below NY |
$56,875±$13kLowest 34% 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 | $135,900±$28kLowest 68% below NY |
$198,900±$16k 53% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Java and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,158±$208 29% below NY |
$1,054±$255 35% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,466 47% below NY |
$3,247 51% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.7%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
47.3%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Barre and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.4%Highest NY: 14% |
19% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% NY: 54.3% |
53.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 36% below NY |
20 minLowest 38% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.5%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9% |
8.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 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. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #309 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.


