Compare towns
Java vs Tuscarora vs Sheldon 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).
Tuscarora has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
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 | Tuscarora | Sheldon | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
1,402Lowest |
2,216 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-5.6%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
39.9±6.6Lowest about the NY average |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above 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% |
30.7%±2.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.8Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest 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% |
12.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
13.7% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.6%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest 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 |
$77,411±$12k 10% below NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% 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 |
$157,800±$21kLowest 63% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% 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 |
$925±$431 43% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Tuscarora 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 |
$3,231 51% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.9%±32.1 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Tuscarora 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% |
18.5%Highest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
86.3% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1975Highest 16 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest 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. | ||||
| 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.