Compare towns
Java vs Sheldon vs Leon 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 expensive homes ($224k median).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Leon has the most kids (42.2% under 18).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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 | Sheldon | Leon | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,216 |
1,459Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
26.4±5.3Lowest 34% below NY |
44.5±6.2 12% 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
42.2%±15Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
10.5%±4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Seneca 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% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Sheldon 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 |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$56,048±$11kLowest 35% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above 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 |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$103,000±$23kLowest 76% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% 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 |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$960±$282 41% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Leon 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 |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$3,259 50% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
0%±100Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon 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% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
21.8%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
86.4% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
33 min about the NY average |
35 minHighest 7% above NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
15.2%±10.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Leon 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.