Compare towns

Champion vs Java vs Le Ray 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

Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Le Ray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.4%).
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.

MeasureChampionJavaLe RaySeneca
People
Population
4,530
2,049Lowest
25,266Highest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.5%
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
+17.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-2.8%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
40±3
about the NY average
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
24.7±0.7Lowest
38% below 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
21.3%±4
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
27.5%±2.4Highest
NY: 20.5%
19.5%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Le Ray and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±2.9
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
3.1%±0.8Lowest
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+
21.2%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%
NY: 40.2%
28.8%Highest
NY: 40.2%
22.1%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
10.5%±1.8Highest
NY: 7%
2.2%±1.4Lowest
NY: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,875±$13kLowest
34% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$63,073±$6k
27% below 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
$198,900±$16k
53% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$185,600±$19kLowest
56% below NY
$192,700±$9k
55% below NY
Java and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,054±$255
35% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$1,473±$41
9% below NY
$1,549±$420Highest
4% below NY
Seneca and Le Ray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,247
51% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$2,953
55% below NY
$2,810Lowest
57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.3%±15.7
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
54.8%±9.4Highest
NY: 52.1%
7.2%±24.9
NY: 52.1%
Le Ray and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
13%
NY: 14%
6.2%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.9%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
20.3%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
91.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
17 yrs newer than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1999Highest
40 yrs newer than NY
1945Lowest
14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
38% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
13 minLowest
59% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
Work from home
8.2%±4.9Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
9.3%±1.9
NY: 14.9%
10.9%±3.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
Seneca and Le Ray 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 #309 of 484 in NY — #375 of 484 in NY —
School district CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · INDIAN RIVER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT —
High school in town CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8
— — —
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.