Compare towns
Centerville vs Freedom 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
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Centerville | Freedom | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 700Lowest |
2,483 |
2,049 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
43.2±7 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
16.6%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8% NY: 40.2% |
15.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Freedom and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$73,646±$24kLowest 14% 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 | $119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY |
$176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $556±$489 66% below NY |
$519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,981 55% below NY |
$3,443 48% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.1%±52.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
10.1%±32.5 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Centerville and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest NY: 14% |
7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1982 23 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% below NY |
28 min 15% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Centerville 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 | 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.