Compare towns
Java vs Sennett vs Mentz vs Seneca
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%).
Sennett has the most expensive homes ($279k median).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
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 | Sennett | Mentz | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
3,264Highest |
1,753Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-8.1% NY: +4.2% |
-11.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.6±4.2Highest 20% above NY |
43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Sennett 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% |
19.4%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.7%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Sennett and Mentz 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% |
35.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.5Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Mentz 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±$24k 11% above NY |
$101,585±$18kHighest 18% above NY |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Sennett 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 |
$279,300±$33kHighest 34% below NY |
$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Sennett and Java 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 |
$978±$217 40% below NY |
$1,045±$130 36% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Mentz 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 |
$5,397Highest 18% below NY |
$2,901 56% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49%±36.7 NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Mentz and Sennett 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% |
5.1% NY: 14% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.2% NY: 54.3% |
74.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
8.5%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | HARRIET TUBMAN RESIDENTIAL CENTER | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.