Compare towns
Java vs Darien 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).
Darien has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
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 | Darien | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,988Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.7%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
50.5±8.8Highest 27% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Darien and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19%±5.9Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.8%±6.2 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Darien 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% |
17%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Darien 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 |
$88,423±$15kLowest 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±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$211,400±$21k 50% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
| Java and Darien 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 |
— | $1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Java 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 |
$4,910Highest 25% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
0%±48.3Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Seneca and Java 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% |
8.7%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1948 11 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.6%±3.8Lowest 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. | |||
| 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.