Compare towns
Java vs Seneca vs Gaines
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).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Gaines has the most affordable homes ($126k 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 | Seneca | Gaines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
45.5±4.4Highest 14% above NY |
| Gaines 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% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
14.8%±5.4Lowest 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% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
24.9%±6.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gaines 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%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
14.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
8.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Gaines 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 |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$56,582±$8kLowest 34% below 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 |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$125,800±$19kLowest 70% 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 |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$922±$72 43% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,157 52% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
18.4%±16.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Gaines and Seneca 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
10.6%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
74.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.6%±6.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Gaines 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 |
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.