Compare towns
Freedom vs Gorham 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
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Freedom | Gorham | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,483 |
4,093Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.2±7Lowest 9% above NY |
48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Gorham and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Freedom and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,646±$24k 14% below NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% 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 | $176,900±$19kLowest 58% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,443 48% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.1%±32.5 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7% NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 15% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.9%±2.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Gorham and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #246 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — |
| High school in town | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— | — |
| 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.