Compare towns
Gaines 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
Gaines has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Seneca has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
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 | Gaines | Seneca | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Highest |
2,622 |
2,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 45.5±4.4 14% above NY |
44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
| Sheldon and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±5.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Seneca and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.9%±6.5 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.4% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
| Gaines and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,582±$8kLowest 34% below NY |
$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
| Seneca and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $125,800±$19kLowest 70% below NY |
$192,700±$9kHighest 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
| Seneca and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $922±$72 43% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,157Highest 52% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.4%±16.2 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Gaines are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 13% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines 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 |
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.