Compare towns
Seneca vs Seward 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Seward has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Sheridan has the shortest commute (24 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 | Seward | Java | Sheridan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
2,055 |
2,049Lowest |
2,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-10.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
39.5±8Lowest about the NY average |
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% |
27.2%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16.6%±4.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Seward 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% |
17.9%±1.1Lowest 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% |
27.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
21.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
5.1%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.8 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±$20kLowest about the NY average |
$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±$9kLowest 55% below NY |
$198,500±$25k 53% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,900±$17k 54% below NY |
| Java and Seward 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±$419 47% below NY |
$861±$64Lowest 47% 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 |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,651 45% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
28.3%±45.3 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
42.1%±28.2Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheridan and Seward 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%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
87.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
93% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1976Highest 17 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 |
37 minHighest 14% above NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% 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% |
9.2%±4.7 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 | 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.