Compare towns
Seneca vs Seward vs Java 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 most affordable homes ($193k median).
Seward has the most people working from home (13.1%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Seward | Java | Benton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,055 |
2,049Lowest |
2,948Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+5.3%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.6±8.4 about the NY average |
| 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% |
27.2%±3 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
30.1%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Benton and Seward 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% |
17.9%±1.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
24.8%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Benton 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% |
27.1% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
27.9%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Seward 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 |
$86,786±$20k about the NY average |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$74,767±$13kLowest 13% 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 |
$198,500±$25k 53% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$258,600±$51kHighest 39% below NY |
| Benton and Java 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±$201 27% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% 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 |
$3,855Highest 41% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,391 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
28.3%±45.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
14.5%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Seward and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
16.4% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
19.4%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
87.5% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.9%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1964 5 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 30% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
13.1%±4.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
11.8%±5.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Seward and Benton 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.