Compare towns
Java vs Potter vs Wheeler 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).
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Wheeler has the most people working from home (21.8%).
Seneca has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Potter | Wheeler | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,871 |
1,195Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-9.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
35.1±6.7 12% below NY |
33.3±13.6Lowest 16% below NY |
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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
29%±5.2 NY: 20.5% |
40.9%±24.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wheeler and Potter 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% |
14.4%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
12.4%±6.1Lowest 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
15.8% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Potter 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 |
$67,344±$19k 22% below NY |
$59,688±$14kLowest 31% 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 |
$130,300±$23k 69% below NY |
$119,400±$16kLowest 72% 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±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,005±$136 38% below NY |
$1,341±$150 17% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Wheeler are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,796 58% below NY |
$2,573Lowest 61% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
15.4%±36.8 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Potter and Wheeler 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% NY: 14% |
35%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84.8% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer than NY |
1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.4%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
21.8%±23.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Wheeler and Potter 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 | 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.