Compare towns
Java vs Afton vs Seneca vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Afton has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Barrington has the most kids (27.3% under 18).
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 | Java | Afton | Seneca | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,733Highest |
2,622 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
44.8±3.4 13% above NY |
| Afton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
27.3%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Barrington and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±2.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
29%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
0.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$90,938±$16k 6% above NY |
| Java and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$255,800±$32kHighest 40% below NY |
| Barrington and Java 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 |
$826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
$1,549±$420 4% below NY |
$1,574±$667Highest about the NY average |
| Barrington and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,463 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
10.3%±84.7 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.1%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
5.9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
93.2% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
11.7%±3.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Barrington 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 | — | #418 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.7 |
— | — |
| 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.