Compare towns
Seneca vs Lysander vs Gorham vs Java
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).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Gorham has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
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 | Lysander | Gorham | Java |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
23,086Highest |
4,093 |
2,049Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
43.6±1.9Lowest 10% above NY |
48.7±8.8Highest 22% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% 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% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander 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% |
17.6%±1.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Gorham 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% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Lysander 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 |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
$64,874±$8kLowest 25% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
| Lysander 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 |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
$263,300±$27k 38% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
| Lysander and Gorham 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 |
$1,130±$100 30% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% 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 |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
$3,497 47% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5 NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Gorham and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.5% NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
24 min 26% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Lysander 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 | — | #158 of 484 in NY | #246 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — |
| High school in town | — | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.4Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.