Compare towns

Frankfort vs Java vs Seneca vs Gowanda

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%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Gowanda has the most affordable homes ($96k median).

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.

MeasureFrankfortJavaSenecaGowanda
People
Population
2,503
2,049Lowest
2,622
2,683Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-10.7%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
-2.8%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-7.2%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
36.7±6Lowest
8% below NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
44.5±6.2Highest
12% above NY
37.6±6.2
6% below 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%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
19.5%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
30.2%±9.7Highest
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%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
22.3%±4.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
18.5%±5.8Lowest
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%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
22.1%
NY: 40.2%
10.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.7
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
2.2%±1.4
NY: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
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
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$90,658±$21k
5% above NY
$51,828±$2k
40% 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
$128,200±$18k
70% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$192,700±$9k
55% below NY
$96,400±$13kLowest
77% 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
$863±$419
47% below NY
$1,549±$420Highest
4% below NY
$753±$51Lowest
54% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,680
44% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$2,810
57% below NY
$2,663Lowest
60% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
32.1%±13.8
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
7.2%±24.9
NY: 52.1%
62.4%±14.3Highest
NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line
11.2%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
6.2%
NY: 14%
16.9%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.7%
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
91.6%
NY: 54.3%
72.4%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
1956Highest
3 yrs older than NY
1945
14 yrs older than NY
1938Lowest
21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
18% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
21 minLowest
36% below NY
Work from home
13.7%±5.7Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
10.9%±3.6
NY: 14.9%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
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
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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.