Compare towns
Java vs Seneca vs Lysander vs Sardinia
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 homeowners (95.2%).
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sardinia has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
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 | Seneca | Lysander | Sardinia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,622 |
23,086Highest |
2,703 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
43.6±1.9 10% above NY |
42.5±7.5Lowest 7% 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% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5 NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Sardinia 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% |
17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Sardinia 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% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Sardinia and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
$84,583±$34kLowest about the NY average |
| Lysander and Java 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 |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$1,130±$100 30% below NY |
$855±$83Lowest 47% below NY |
| Seneca and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Lysander and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #158 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 15.4 |
— |
| 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.