Compare towns
Seneca vs Sennett vs Sheldon vs Benton
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).
Sennett has the highest household income ($102k).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
Benton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Sennett | Sheldon | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,264Highest |
2,216Lowest |
2,948 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-8.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
47.6±4.2 20% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
40.6±8.4Lowest about the NY average |
| Sheldon and Sennett 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% |
19.4%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.7%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Benton 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% |
35.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
27.9% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.8%±1.5 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Seneca 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 |
$101,585±$18kHighest 18% above NY |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$74,767±$13k 13% below NY |
| Sennett 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 |
$279,300±$33kHighest 34% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 58% below NY |
$258,600±$51k 39% below NY |
| Sennett and Benton 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 |
$978±$217 40% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,541±$628 5% below NY |
| Seneca and Benton 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 |
$5,397Highest 18% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
49%±36.7 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
5.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
11.8% NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.2% NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
23 min 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
8.5%±3.9 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Benton and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) | — | — |
| High school in town | — | HARRIET TUBMAN RESIDENTIAL CENTER | — | — |
| 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.