Compare towns
Java vs Brookfield vs Seneca vs Sardinia
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).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($153k median).
Seneca has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
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 | Brookfield | Seneca | Sardinia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,150 |
2,622 |
2,703Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
41.2±6.1Lowest 4% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
42.5±7.5 7% 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% |
21.8%±4.9 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Brookfield 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% |
19.9%±4 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
21.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.4%±1.3 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9Highest 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 |
$69,205±$9kLowest 20% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
| 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±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$152,800±$28kLowest 64% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia 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 |
$981±$75 39% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$855±$83Lowest 47% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,197 51% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
51.4%±35.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Brookfield 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% |
16.6%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
84.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
36 minHighest 11% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 min 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.5%±4.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Brookfield 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.