Compare towns
Seneca vs Middlesex 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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (18.2%).
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 | Middlesex | Java | Phelps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,407Lowest |
2,049 |
6,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
55.3±6Highest 39% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.4±4.8 12% above NY |
| Middlesex and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18%±3.8Lowest 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% |
24.6%±3.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% NY: 40.2% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$75,750±$21kLowest 12% 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 |
$208,100±$62k 51% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$166,300±$10kLowest 61% below NY |
| Java and Middlesex 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 |
$1,406±$672 13% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,124±$95 31% below NY |
| Seneca and Middlesex 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 |
$3,459 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% |
29.1%±39 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±14.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Phelps and Middlesex 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% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
90.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1974Highest 15 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 |
25 min 22% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±6.2Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.6 NY: 14.9% |
| Middlesex and Phelps 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 | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) | — | PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None 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.