Compare towns
Java vs Bennington vs Sardinia 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).
Bennington has the most expensive homes ($244k median).
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
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 | Bennington | Sardinia | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
3,220Highest |
2,703 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.7±5.8Highest 17% above NY |
42.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Bennington and Seneca 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% |
20.5%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia 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%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Seneca 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% |
26%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sardinia 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 |
$89,050±$10k 4% above NY |
$84,583±$34kLowest 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 |
$244,400±$24kHighest 42% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
| Bennington 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 |
$942±$344 42% below NY |
$855±$83Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$4,591Highest 30% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.4%±29Highest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Bennington and Seneca 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% |
8% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1969Highest 10 yrs newer than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
30 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.5%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.