What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).

Seward has the most kids (27.2% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Seneca	Seward
People
Population	2,622Highest	2,055Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY	39.5±8Lowest about the NY average
	Seneca and Seward 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%	27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Seneca and Seward 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%	27.1%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%	5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7%
	Seward 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±$21kHighest 5% above NY	$86,786±$20kLowest about the NY average
	Seneca and Seward 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	$198,500±$25kHighest 53% below NY
	Seward and Seneca 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	$1,180±$201Lowest 27% below NY
	Seneca and Seward 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	$3,855Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Seward and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%	16.4%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY	1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	37 minHighest 14% above NY
Work from home	10.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seward 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

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.