Compare towns
Seneca vs Ashford vs Java
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%).
Ashford has the oldest population (median age 52.3).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k 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 | Ashford | Java |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,834Lowest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
52.3±6.9Highest 31% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
| Ashford and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Seneca 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% |
23.3%±3.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Ashford 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% |
18.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1%±0.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest 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 |
$77,558±$11kLowest 10% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% 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±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
$194,600±$43k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Java and Ashford 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 |
$654±$132Lowest 60% below NY |
$863±$419 47% 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 | $2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
$4,079Highest 38% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
19.4%±79.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Ashford and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
6.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
92% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1960Highest 1 yr newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.1%±5.1Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 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 |
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.

