Compare towns
Seneca vs Sheldon vs Java vs Phelps
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).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Phelps 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 | Sheldon | Java | Phelps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,216 |
2,049Lowest |
6,624Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.2%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.4±4.8 12% above NY |
| Sheldon 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% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±3.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Phelps 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% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
23.1%±3.3 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Phelps 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% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
25.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.2Highest NY: 7% |
| Phelps and Sheldon 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 |
$71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$80,262±$13k 7% 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±$9k 55% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$166,300±$10kLowest 61% below NY |
| Java 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 |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,124±$95 31% below NY |
| Seneca and Phelps 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 |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,932Highest 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.7%±14.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Phelps are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
81.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1953 6 yrs older than 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 36% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
13%±4.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Phelps 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 | — | — | — | #197 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | MIDLAKES MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.