Compare towns
Java vs Amboy vs Russia 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
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Amboy has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.4%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k median).
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 | Java | Amboy | Russia | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,286Lowest |
2,272 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40±10.2Lowest about the NY average |
43.9±2.9 10% above NY |
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 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Amboy and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
13.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Russia 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% |
9.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Russia and Java 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 |
$65,234±$17kLowest 24% below NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$124,800±$21kLowest 71% below NY |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Russia and Java 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 |
$944±$65 42% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,243 51% below NY |
$2,939 55% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
45.6%±36Highest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Amboy and Russia 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% |
25.7%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
31 min 4% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 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 | ||||
| School district | — | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.