Compare towns
Java vs Seward vs Seneca 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 highest household income ($95k).
Seward has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Seneca has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
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 | Seward | Seneca | Sardinia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Lowest |
2,055 |
2,622 |
2,703Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
42.5±7.5 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% |
27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5 NY: 20.5% |
| Seward 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% |
17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest 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% |
27.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
21.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9 NY: 7% |
| Seward and Sardinia 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 |
$86,786±$20k about the NY average |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$84,583±$34kLowest 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 |
$198,500±$25k 53% below NY |
$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia 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 |
$1,180±$201 27% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$855±$83Lowest 47% below NY |
| Seneca and Seward 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 |
$3,855Highest 41% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Seward 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% |
16.4%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
12.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 min 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
| Seward 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.