Compare towns
Seneca vs Gorham 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%).
Gorham has the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Phelps has the most affordable homes ($166k 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 | Gorham | Java | Phelps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,093 |
2,049Lowest |
6,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.4±4.8 12% above NY |
| Gorham 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% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Phelps 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% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Phelps 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% |
27.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Phelps and Gorham 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 |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% 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 |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$166,300±$10kLowest 61% 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 |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,124±$95 31% 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 |
$3,497 47% 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% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±14.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham 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% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
79.7%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 |
1959Highest same as NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1953 6 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 min 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Phelps and Gorham 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 | — | #246 of 484 in NY | — | #197 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — | MIDLAKES MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
— | 9.4Highest |
| 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.