Compare towns

Seneca vs Potter vs Java vs Sardinia

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 oldest population (median age 44.5).
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).

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.

MeasureSenecaPotterJavaSardinia
People
Population
2,622
1,871Lowest
2,049
2,703Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%
NY: +4.2%
-0.4%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.1%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.5±6.2Highest
12% above NY
35.1±6.7Lowest
12% below NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
42.5±7.5
7% 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%
29%±5.2Highest
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
22.4%±6.5
NY: 20.5%
Potter and Sardinia 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%
14.4%±3.7Lowest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
20.8%±4.7
NY: 17.9%
Seneca and Sardinia 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%
10.8%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%Highest
NY: 40.2%
21.7%
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.4Lowest
NY: 7%
4.6%±3.7
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
5%±2.9Highest
NY: 7%
Sardinia and Potter 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
$67,344±$19kLowest
22% below NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$84,583±$34k
about the NY average
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
$130,300±$23kLowest
69% below NY
$223,900±$30kHighest
47% below NY
$218,900±$19k
48% below NY
Java and Sardinia 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
$1,005±$136
38% below NY
$863±$419
47% below NY
$855±$83Lowest
47% below NY
Seneca and Potter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,810
57% below NY
$2,796
58% below NY
$3,775Highest
43% below NY
$2,233Lowest
66% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.2%±24.9
NY: 52.1%
41.7%±18.6Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
4.5%±28.2
NY: 52.1%
Potter and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
NY: 14%
10%
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
12.4%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
NY: 54.3%
79.5%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
90.8%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
14 yrs older than NY
1969Highest
10 yrs newer than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1961
2 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% below NY
25 minLowest
25% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
30 minHighest
10% below NY
Work from home
10.9%±3.6
NY: 14.9%
13.4%±4.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
10.2%±6.1
NY: 14.9%
Potter and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
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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.