Compare towns
Colden vs Gorham 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
Colden has the most people working from home (15%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Colden | Gorham | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,145 |
4,093Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY |
48.7±8.8 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Colden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Colden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,935±$15kHighest 14% above NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Colden and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY |
$263,300±$27k 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
| Colden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $943±$142 42% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,752Highest 28% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±28 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Colden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 19% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 15%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Colden and Gorham 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 | #346 of 484 in NY | #246 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| 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.