Compare towns
Java vs Benton vs Sheldon 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).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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 | Benton | Sheldon | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,948Highest |
2,216 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Sheldon 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% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Benton 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% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Benton 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% |
27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Sheldon 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 |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$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 |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Benton 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 |
$1,541±$628 5% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Benton 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 |
$3,391 48% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Seneca 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.