What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seneca has the most homeowners (91.6%).

Waterville has the most renters (45.9% rent).

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	Waterville
People
Population	2,622Highest	1,731Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY	44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY
	Waterville and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%	18.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Seneca and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9%	21.5%±1.6Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Seneca and Waterville 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%	24.7%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.4Highest NY: 7%	1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7%
	Seneca and Waterville 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	$82,273±$13kLowest 4% below NY
	Seneca and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,700±$9kHighest 55% below NY	$170,100±$12kLowest 60% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY	$820±$132Lowest 49% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY	$3,425Highest 48% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1%	24%±10.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Waterville 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%	8.1%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 14 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 17% below NY	22 minLowest 34% below NY
Work from home	10.9%±3.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Waterville 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.