Compare towns
Java vs Phelps 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).
Phelps 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 | Phelps | Seneca | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
6,624Highest |
2,622 |
2,272 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.4±4.8 12% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY |
| Seneca and Phelps 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% |
21.6%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Phelps and Russia 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% |
23.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Phelps and Seneca 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% |
25.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Phelps and Russia 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 |
$80,262±$13kLowest 7% 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 |
$166,300±$10kLowest 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 |
$1,124±$95 31% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
| Seneca and Phelps 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 |
$3,932Highest 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% |
43.7%±14.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Phelps 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% |
10.2%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1953 6 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Phelps 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 | — | #197 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | MIDLAKES MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.