Compare towns
Groton 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
Groton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Groton | Java | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,612Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43±7.9Lowest 8% above 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 | 23.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Groton and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 21.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,113±$12kLowest 20% 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 | $163,900±$9kLowest 61% 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 | $1,018±$239 37% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,955Highest 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Groton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Groton 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 | #322 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0 |
— | — |
| 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.