Compare towns
Java vs Groton vs Seneca vs Russia
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).
Groton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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 | Groton | Seneca | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
5,612Highest |
2,622 |
2,272 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43±7.9Lowest 8% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
43.9±2.9 10% 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% |
23.2%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Groton and Russia 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% |
19%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Russia 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% |
21.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3%±1.6 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Highest NY: 7% |
| Russia 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 |
$69,113±$12kLowest 20% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$86,116±$17k 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$163,900±$9kLowest 61% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
| Russia 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 |
$1,018±$239 37% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
| Seneca and Groton 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 |
$3,955Highest 40% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$2,939 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49%±25.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Groton and Russia 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% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
89.7% 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 |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
11.2%±4.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Groton 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 | — | #322 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | DRYDEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · GROTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | GROTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
— | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.