What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Seneca has the highest household income ($91k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jay	Seneca
People
Population	2,354Lowest	2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±4.6Highest 23% above NY	44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY
	Jay and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16%±4.1Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
	Seneca and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.3%±4.8Highest NY: 17.9%	22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Jay and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±1.7Lowest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%
	Seneca and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,380±$19kLowest 16% below NY	$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY
	Seneca and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,900±$22kHighest 54% below NY	$192,700±$9kLowest 55% below NY
	Jay and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,272±$366Lowest 22% below NY	$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY
	Seneca and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,741Highest 43% below NY	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.4%±21.1Highest NY: 52.1%	7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Jay and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.4%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 13% below NY	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	8.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seneca and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	AUSABLE VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.