Compare towns
Java vs Seneca vs Sheldon vs Waterford
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).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Sheldon | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,216 |
2,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
42.4±5.7Lowest 7% above NY |
| Sheldon 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% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.8%±4.5 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% |
25%±3.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.7%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterford and Sheldon 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% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
4.3%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Waterford and Sheldon 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 |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$72,938±$12k 15% 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 |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$157,500±$30kLowest 63% 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 |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,082±$91 33% below NY |
| Seneca and Waterford 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 |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$3,534 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
26.5%±11.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Waterford 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% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
53.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14%±8.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterford 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 | — | — | — | #286 of 484 in NY |
| 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.