Compare towns
Seneca vs Afton vs Java vs Gorham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Afton has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($263k 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 | Seneca | Afton | Java | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,733 |
2,049Lowest |
4,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
47.6±6.3 20% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY |
| Gorham and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$64,874±$8k 25% below 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 | $192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
| Gorham and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
| Seneca and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Afton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
12.1%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1952 7 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
23 min 29% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Gorham and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #418 of 484 in NY | — | #246 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.7Lowest |
— | 9.2Highest |
| 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.