What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cato has the shortest commute (23 min average).

Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Cato	Seneca
People
Population	2,542Lowest	2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.7±4Highest 22% above NY	44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY
	Cato and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Seneca and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±3.1Lowest NY: 17.9%	22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%
	Seneca and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.9%Lowest NY: 40.2%	22.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.6Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Cato and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,760±$11kLowest 7% below NY	$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY
	Seneca and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$167,600±$6kLowest 60% below NY	$192,700±$9kHighest 55% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$942±$425Lowest 42% below NY	$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY
	Seneca and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Highest 54% below NY	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±23.7Lowest NY: 52.1%	7.2%±24.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Seneca and Cato are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.8%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 15 yrs newer than NY	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 30% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%	10.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Cato and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.