What stands out worked out from the figures below

Caroline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).

Seneca has the most homeowners (91.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Caroline	Seneca
People
Population	3,280Highest	2,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	40.5±3.5Lowest about the NY average	44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY
	Seneca and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.9%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Seneca and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Seneca and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.1%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Caroline and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,855±$21kLowest 6% below NY	$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY
	Seneca and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY	$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY
	Caroline and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,398±$416Lowest 14% below NY	$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY
	Seneca and Caroline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,703Highest 13% below NY	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±15.4Highest NY: 52.1%	7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Caroline and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.6%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 35% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9%	10.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Caroline 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	#345 of 484 in NY	—
School district	NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.