Compare towns
Sardinia vs Java vs Seneca vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($159k 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 | Sardinia | Java | Seneca | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,703Highest |
2,049 |
2,622 |
2,019Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.5±7.5Lowest 7% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
42.8±3.1 8% 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 | 22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.2%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±4.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
14.4%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 21.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
19%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.8%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Sardinia and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,583±$34kLowest about the NY average |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$97,019±$11kHighest 13% above NY |
| Ira and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$158,800±$16kLowest 63% 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 | $855±$83Lowest 47% below NY |
$863±$419 47% 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 | $2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$3,594 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
14.3%±35.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Ira and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
4.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
88.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 7% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.2%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
8.9%±5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.