Compare towns
Frankfort vs Gowanda 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
Frankfort has the most people working from home (13.7%).
Gowanda has the most affordable homes ($96k median).
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 | Frankfort | Gowanda | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,503 |
2,683Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 36.7±6Lowest 8% below NY |
37.6±6.2 6% below 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 | 24.4%±6.6 NY: 20.5% |
30.2%±9.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Gowanda and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±5.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13% NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Java and Frankfort are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $50,909±$4kLowest 41% below NY |
$51,828±$2k 40% 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 | $128,200±$18k 70% below NY |
$96,400±$13kLowest 77% 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 | $874±$58 46% below NY |
$753±$51Lowest 54% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,680 44% below NY |
$2,663Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
62.4%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NY: 14% |
16.9%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% NY: 54.3% |
72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 18% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.7%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Frankfort 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.