Compare towns
Ira vs Java vs Kendall 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
Ira has the most affordable homes ($159k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Kendall has the most kids (24.5% under 18).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
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 | Ira | Java | Kendall | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,019Lowest |
2,049 |
2,591 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.1±6.6Lowest about the NY average |
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 | 20.2%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Kendall and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±2.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±4.2 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+ | 19%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.7% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Ira and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$87,734±$14kLowest about the NY average |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Ira and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,800±$16kLowest 63% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$191,200±$28k 55% 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 | — | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$850±$314Lowest 48% 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 | $3,594 45% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,328Highest 34% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
51.5%±36.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Kendall and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.9%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.1%±2.7Lowest 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. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #46 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | KENDALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | KENDALL JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.