Compare towns
Catharine vs Java vs Seneca vs Hector
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Catharine has the most affordable homes ($145k median).
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Hector has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Catharine | Java | Seneca | Hector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,370Lowest |
2,049 |
2,622 |
4,850Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.4±6.5 19% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
51.1±4Highest 28% above NY |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 21.7%±2.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Hector and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
36.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Catharine and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,500±$15kLowest 32% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$79,904±$19k 7% 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 | $144,900±$11kLowest 66% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$218,700±$32k 48% below NY |
| Java and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $854±$117Lowest 47% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$1,083±$525 33% below NY |
| Seneca and Hector are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,675Lowest 59% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$4,072Highest 38% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.5%±19.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
81.7%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Hector and Catharine are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
15.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.4% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 6 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 23% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 18% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±4.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Hector and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | ODESSA-MONTOUR CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | ODESSA-MONTOUR JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.