Compare towns
Gorham vs Java vs Seneca vs Starkey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Starkey has the most affordable homes ($146k 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.
| Measure | Gorham | Java | Seneca | Starkey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,093Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
3,381 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
41.3±2.5Lowest 4% 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 | 19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Starkey and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
12.7%±3Lowest 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+ | 27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
16.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,874±$8k 25% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$55,064±$7kLowest 36% 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 | $263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$145,700±$17kLowest 66% 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 | $1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$744±$96Lowest 54% 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 | $3,497 47% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,412 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
45%±14.6 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Starkey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
19.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
73.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 same as NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
26 min 20% below NY |
| Work from home | 12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
14.9%±8.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Starkey and Gorham 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 | — | — | #358 of 484 in NY |
| School district | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | — | DUNDEE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | DUNDEE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
— | — | 8.8Lowest |
| 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.