Compare towns
Dickinson 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
Dickinson has the shortest commute (17 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 | Dickinson | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,001Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.7±3.3Lowest 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Dickinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Dickinson and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,864±$14kLowest 9% 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 | $147,400±$17kLowest 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% 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 | $941±$68 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,523 46% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.8%±13.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Dickinson and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.