Compare towns
Hanover vs Java vs Seneca vs Sheridan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most affordable homes ($142k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Sheridan has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Hanover | Java | Seneca | Sheridan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,882Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
2,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 50.6±5.5Highest 27% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
47.2±8.7 19% above NY |
| Hanover and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
16.6%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 26.7%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Hanover and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Java and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,563±$9kLowest 17% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$87,083±$13k 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 | $141,500±$16kLowest 67% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$192,900±$17k 54% below NY |
| Java and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $993±$105 39% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$861±$64Lowest 47% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,881 56% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,651 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±22.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
42.1%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Hanover and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
93% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 9 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 19% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 11.5%±5.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
9.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Hanover 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 | #196 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | FORESTVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · SILVER CREEK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | SILVER CREEK HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.