Compare towns
Seneca vs Eagle vs Java vs Phelps
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%).
Eagle has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Phelps has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Eagle | Java | Phelps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,231Lowest |
2,049 |
6,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
37.8±12.6Lowest 5% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.4±4.8 12% above NY |
| Seneca and Phelps 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% |
26.1%±9.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±3.8 NY: 20.5% |
| Eagle and Phelps 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% |
16.7%±1.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Phelps 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% |
11.2%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.4 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Phelps 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 |
$72,778±$19kLowest 15% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$80,262±$13k 7% 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 |
$148,900±$41kLowest 65% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$166,300±$10k 61% below NY |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$736±$101Lowest 55% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,124±$95 31% below NY |
| Seneca and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810 57% below NY |
$2,753Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,932Highest 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
54.7%±33Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±14.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Eagle and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
14.8%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
80.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1978Highest 19 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1953 6 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 8% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
11.1%±6.5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Phelps and Eagle 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 | — | — | — | #197 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | MIDLAKES MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.