Compare towns
Java vs Tompkins vs Nelliston 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).
Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Nelliston has the most affordable homes ($74k median).
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 | Tompkins | Nelliston | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,187 |
707Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
57.6±5.8 45% above NY |
60.6±11.9Highest 52% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
| Nelliston and Tompkins 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% |
8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
12.9%±7.3 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 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% |
30.6%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
31.1%±7.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Nelliston and Tompkins 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% |
18.8% NY: 40.2% |
18%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.9%±2Highest NY: 7% |
1.7%±2Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 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 |
$61,103±$27k 29% below NY |
$39,219±$29kLowest 54% 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 |
$185,700±$23k 56% below NY |
$74,200±$26kLowest 82% 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 |
$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY |
$628±$18 61% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% 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 |
$2,487 62% below NY |
$2,400Lowest 64% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4 NY: 52.1% |
0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1% |
80%±51.1Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Nelliston 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% |
8.8% NY: 14% |
26.7%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.1% NY: 54.3% |
68.4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
70 minHighest 115% above NY |
25 minLowest 22% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9.6%±9.8 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 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.