Compare towns
Seneca vs Java vs Benton vs Gorham
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).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
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 | Java | Benton | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,049Lowest |
2,948 |
4,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
48.7±8.8Highest 22% 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% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Benton 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% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham and Benton 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% NY: 40.2% |
27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Gorham 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 |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% 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±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
| Gorham and Benton 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 |
$1,541±$628 5% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
| Seneca and Benton 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 |
$3,391 48% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
79.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1964Highest 5 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
23 min 30% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Gorham and Benton 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 |
| School district | — | — | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | — | — | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.