Compare towns
Seneca vs Afton vs Java vs Wales
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 the most people working from home (10.9%).
Afton has the most affordable homes ($126k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,733 |
2,049Lowest |
3,015Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
| Afton and Seneca 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%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Wales 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% |
25.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$88,590±$19k 3% 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 | $192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY |
| Wales 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 |
$950±$503 41% below NY |
| Seneca and Wales 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,782Highest 27% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Wales 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% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8% 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 |
1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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 | — | #321 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.7 |
— | — |
| 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.