Compare towns
De Peyster 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
De Peyster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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.
| Measure | De Peyster | Java | Seneca | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,049 |
2,622Highest |
2,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 25.3±9.1Lowest 36% below NY |
44.2±5.5 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 | 40.4%±12.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 9.5%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 23.7% 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 | 2.7%±2.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,000±$23kLowest 22% 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 | $100,000±$18kLowest 76% 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 | $850±$316 48% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,125Lowest 68% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±100 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 De Peyster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.2%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 29% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 14.6%±7.8Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| De Peyster 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.