Compare towns
Central Square vs Seneca vs Sheldon vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Seneca has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Waterville has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Central Square | Seneca | Sheldon | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,163 |
2,622Highest |
2,216 |
1,731Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.9±4.5 13% above NY |
| Sheldon and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.8%±3.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Central Square and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Central Square and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,500±$23kLowest 19% below NY |
$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$82,273±$13k 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$20kHighest 54% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$170,100±$12kLowest 60% below NY |
| Central Square and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$91 44% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$820±$132 49% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$3,425 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±13.7 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
24%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
22 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.3%±6.7 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterville and Central Square 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.