Compare towns
Dayton vs Java vs Seneca vs Sheldon
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).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Java | Seneca | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,829Lowest |
2,049 |
2,622Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Dayton and Java 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% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest 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+ | 18.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Dayton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,553±$10kLowest 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% 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 | $111,700±$13kLowest 74% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% 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 | $907±$192 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,161 52% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26%±17.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954 5 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 6% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Dayton and Seneca 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.