Compare towns
Seneca vs Potter vs Java vs Sheridan
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 housing (typical home built 1945).
Potter has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Sheridan has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Potter | Java | Sheridan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,871Lowest |
2,049 |
2,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
35.1±6.7Lowest 12% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
47.2±8.7Highest 19% above NY |
| Sheridan 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% |
29%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Potter 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% |
14.4%±3.7Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.2%±5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheridan 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% NY: 40.2% |
10.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.6%±3.7Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Potter 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 |
$67,344±$19kLowest 22% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$87,083±$13k 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 |
$192,900±$17k 54% below NY |
| Java and Sheridan 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 |
$861±$64Lowest 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 |
$2,796Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,651 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
41.7%±18.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
42.1%±28.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheridan and Potter 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%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
79.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
93% 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 |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
25 min 25% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% 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% |
9.2%±4.7 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 | ||||
| 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.