Compare towns
Java vs Pike vs Dickinson 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 expensive homes ($224k median).
Pike has the most affordable homes ($129k median).
Dickinson has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Pike | Dickinson | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
812Lowest |
5,001Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.4% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.3±4.4Highest 21% above NY |
42.7±3.3Lowest 7% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Pike 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% |
17.6%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±3.9Lowest 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% |
25.2%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.1%±4 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Pike 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% |
15.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
32%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 NY: 7% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Dickinson 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 |
$71,250±$11kLowest 17% below NY |
$77,864±$14k 9% 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±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$129,100±$18kLowest 70% below NY |
$147,400±$17k 65% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$810±$762Lowest 50% below NY |
$941±$68 42% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,947 55% below NY |
$3,523 46% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
83.7%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
35.8%±13.8 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9%Highest NY: 14% |
8.5% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.5% NY: 54.3% |
75.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1965Highest 6 yrs newer than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
17 minLowest 48% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.4%±5.9Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Dickinson and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| 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.


