Compare towns
Java vs Seneca vs Tompkins vs Sheridan
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Sheridan has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Tompkins | Sheridan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,622Highest |
1,187Lowest |
2,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY |
47.2±8.7 19% above NY |
| Tompkins and Sheridan 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% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
16.6%±4.6 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% |
30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Tompkins and Sheridan 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% |
18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
21.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Tompkins 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 |
$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY |
$87,083±$13k about the NY average |
| 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 |
$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY |
$192,900±$17k 54% below NY |
| Java and Sheridan 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 |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
$861±$64 47% 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 |
$2,487Lowest 62% below NY |
$3,651 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
42.1%±28.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheridan 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% |
8.8%Highest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
93% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Tompkins 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.