Compare towns
Java vs Seneca vs Gowanda
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%).
Gowanda has the most affordable homes ($96k 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 | Gowanda |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
2,683Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
37.6±6.2Lowest 6% below 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% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
30.2%±9.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Gowanda 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
18.5%±5.8Lowest 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% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$51,828±$2kLowest 40% 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 |
$96,400±$13kLowest 77% 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 |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$753±$51Lowest 54% below NY |
| Seneca and Java 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 |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$2,663Lowest 60% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
62.4%±14.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
16.9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
72.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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.