Compare towns
Gowanda 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
Gowanda has the most affordable homes ($96k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
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 | Gowanda | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,683Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 37.6±6.2Lowest 6% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.2%±9.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Gowanda and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±5.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,828±$2kLowest 40% 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 | $96,400±$13kLowest 77% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% 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 | $753±$51Lowest 54% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,663Lowest 60% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.4%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 36% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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.