Compare towns
Seneca vs Russia vs Java 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Russia has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Gorham 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 | Russia | Java | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,272 |
2,049Lowest |
4,093Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.3%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-3.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
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% |
21.3%±4.1Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±4.4 NY: 20.5% |
| Russia 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% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
27.1%±4.7Highest 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% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.7%±1.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Gorham and Russia 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 |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above 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 |
$232,200±$44k 45% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$263,300±$27kHighest 38% below NY |
| Gorham and Russia 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 |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,165±$208 28% 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 |
$2,939 55% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,497 47% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
70.6%±21.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
79.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1959Highest same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Gorham and Seneca 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 | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | GORHAM-MIDDLESEX CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (MARCUS WHITMAN) |
| High school in town | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | MARCUS WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
— | 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.