Compare towns
Java vs Caroline 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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Caroline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Caroline | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
3,280Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.5±3.5Lowest about the NY average |
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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±5.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Seneca 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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% |
59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Caroline 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 |
$80,855±$21kLowest 6% 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 |
$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
| Caroline 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 |
$1,398±$416 14% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Caroline 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 |
$5,703Highest 13% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.3%±15.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Caroline 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% |
14.6%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1970Highest 11 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline 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 | — | #345 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.