Compare towns
Groton vs Java vs Seneca vs Lansing
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 most affordable homes ($164k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Seneca has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Lansing has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Lansing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,612 |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
11,789Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
+4.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43±7.9 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
34.7±3.7Lowest 13% below 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% |
20.4%±3.2 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%±3.5 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.5Lowest 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% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
65.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
7.4%±3.1Highest NY: 7% |
| Lansing and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$86,342±$15k about the NY average |
| 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$346,400±$44kHighest 18% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$239 37% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420 4% below NY |
$1,631±$81Highest about the NY average |
| Lansing and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,955 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$7,328Highest 11% above NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±25.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
61.9%±19.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Lansing and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
13.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
54.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
20 minLowest 40% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
16.4%±4.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Lansing and Groton 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 | — | — | #144 of 484 in NY |
| School district | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · LANSING CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | LANSING HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | — | 9.7Lowest |
| 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.