Compare towns
Dannemora vs Java vs Seneca vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dannemora has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Wayland has the most kids (28.2% under 18).
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 | Dannemora | Java | Seneca | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,307 |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
3,698Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -17.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 39±4.1Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
39.5±4.3 about the NY average |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.3%±3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
28.2%±5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wayland and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.7%±2.3Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
17.7%±3.2 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+ | 7.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
15.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.6%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,829±$18k 9% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$65,385±$15kLowest 24% below 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 | $134,600±$30k 68% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$105,400±$16kLowest 75% 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 | $913±$234 44% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$955±$280 41% below NY |
| Seneca and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,029 54% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,052 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±34Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
46.3%±12.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Dannemora and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
77% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 3 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 37% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.9%±2.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
5.8%±2.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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 | — | — | — | #390 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | WAYLAND-COHOCTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | WAYLAND-COHOCTON HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| 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.