Compare towns
Seneca vs Colden 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 affordable homes ($193k median).
Colden has the most people working from home (15%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
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 | Colden | Java | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,145Highest |
2,049Lowest |
3,015 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-4.4%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
49.3±10.4Highest 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±6.6Lowest 10% above NY |
| Colden 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% |
19.1%±5.2Lowest 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%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Colden 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
41%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
| Colden 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 |
$97,935±$15kHighest 14% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$88,590±$19kLowest 3% above NY |
| Colden and Java 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 |
$302,600±$42kHighest 29% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$244,800±$33k 42% below NY |
| Colden and Wales 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 |
$943±$142 42% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 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 |
$4,752 28% 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% |
61.5%±28Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Colden 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% |
10%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1969 10 yrs newer 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 |
26 min 19% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
15%±7.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
7.2%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Colden 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 | — | #346 of 484 in NY | — | #321 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | SPRINGVILLE-GRIFFITH INSTITUTE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.