Compare towns
Ira vs Java vs Seneca vs Cato
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).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Cato has the shortest commute (23 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 | Ira | Java | Seneca | Cato |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,019Lowest |
2,049 |
2,622Highest |
2,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.6% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.7±4Highest 22% above NY |
| Cato and Seneca 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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Ira 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22%±3.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Cato 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% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
21.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.5%±1.6 NY: 7% |
| Ira and Cato 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 |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$79,760±$11kLowest 7% below 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 |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$167,600±$6k 60% 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±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$942±$425 42% below NY |
| Seneca and Cato 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 |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,005 54% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±35.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
7.1%±23.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Ira and Seneca 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
87.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1974 15 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Cato and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — | — |
| 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.