What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Seneca	Java
People
Population	2,622Highest	2,049Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY
	Seneca and Java 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%	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%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Seneca and Java 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%	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest 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±$21kLowest 5% above 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	$223,900±$30kHighest 47% 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	$863±$419Lowest 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	$3,775Highest 43% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.2%±24.9Highest NY: 52.1%	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest NY: 14%	3.7%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Lowest NY: 54.3%	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	27 minHighest 17% below NY
Work from home	10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%	9%±4.4Lowest 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

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.