Compare towns
Geneva vs Java vs Seneca vs Oneonta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Geneva has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Java has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Oneonta has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Geneva | Java | Seneca | Oneonta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,471 |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-3.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 53±3.8Highest 33% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
52.2±3.9 31% above NY |
| Geneva and Oneonta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 30.9%±6.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
25%±5.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Geneva and Oneonta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
41.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
| Geneva and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,589±$19k 4% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$79,074±$10kLowest 8% 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 | $232,600±$9kHighest 45% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$187,100±$27kLowest 56% below NY |
| Geneva and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$102 37% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$953±$171 41% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,419 48% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,291 50% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±15.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
46.9%±18.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Geneva and Oneonta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
14.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
75.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 13 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 45% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 3%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
15.9%±8.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Oneonta 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 | — | — | — | #370 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | ONEONTA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| 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.