Compare towns
Seneca vs Summerhill 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%).
Summerhill has the most affordable homes ($174k median).
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 | Summerhill | Java | Sheridan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
886Lowest |
2,049 |
2,529 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
49.5±5.1Highest 24% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
47.2±8.7 19% above NY |
| Summerhill and Sheridan 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% |
14.8%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.6%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Seneca 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% |
18.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
21.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.8% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
2.1%±1.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.8%±1.8 NY: 7% |
| Java and Sheridan 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 |
$68,047±$8kLowest 21% below NY |
$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±$9k 55% below NY |
$173,800±$21kLowest 59% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,900±$17k 54% below NY |
| Java and Sheridan 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 |
$1,143±$266 29% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$861±$64Lowest 47% below NY |
| Seneca and Summerhill 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 |
$3,781Highest 43% 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% |
42.6%±43Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
42.1%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
| Summerhill and Sheridan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NY: 14% |
15.9%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
7.5% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6% NY: 54.3% |
85.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
93% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1967Highest 8 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 |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
7.4%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
9.2%±4.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Sheridan 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.