Compare towns
Dayton vs Denmark 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
Dayton has the most affordable homes ($112k median).
Denmark has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
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 | Dayton | Denmark | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,829Lowest |
2,630Highest |
2,049 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-8.2% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.9±7.9Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Denmark and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.8%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Dayton and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.9%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Denmark and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.5% NY: 40.2% |
14.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.6%±1.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Dayton and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,553±$10k 20% below NY |
$63,270±$4kLowest 26% 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 | $111,700±$13kLowest 74% below NY |
$193,600±$25k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Java and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $907±$192 44% below NY |
$952±$70 41% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,161 52% below NY |
$3,310 50% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26%±17.7 NY: 52.1% |
37%±12.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Denmark and Dayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.3%Highest NY: 14% |
16.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NY: 54.3% |
74.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.5%±2.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Dayton and Seneca 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 | — | #142 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| 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.