Compare towns
Java vs Providence vs Benton 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 highest household income ($95k).
Providence has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Benton has the most kids (30.1% under 18).
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k 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 | Providence | Benton | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,971Lowest |
2,948Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+4% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±5.2Highest 23% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Providence and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
15.7%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Java 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% |
18%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Benton 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% |
28.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
6.8%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Providence 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 |
$92,574±$16k 8% above NY |
$74,767±$13kLowest 13% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Java and Providence 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 |
$270,500±$25kHighest 36% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
| Providence and Benton 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 |
$1,449±$383 11% below NY |
$1,541±$628 5% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Benton 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 |
$3,275 50% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
27.9%±50.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Providence and Benton 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% |
11.1% NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
94.7% NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1993Highest 34 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
32 minHighest about the NY average |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Seneca 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.