Compare towns
Sennett vs Java vs Owasco vs Berne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sennett has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Java has the most affordable homes ($224k median).
Owasco has the oldest population (median age 53.4).
Berne has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Sennett | Java | Owasco | Berne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,264 |
2,049Lowest |
3,511Highest |
2,679 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.4% NY: +4.2% |
-3.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 47.6±4.2 20% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
53.4±6.5Highest 34% above NY |
47.7±3.3 20% above NY |
| Owasco and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
15.1%±4.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
18.7%±5 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±4.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Lowest NY: 17.9% |
28.5%±5.3Highest NY: 17.9% |
23.7%±5.4 NY: 17.9% |
| Owasco and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
49.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
35.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.5 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.4%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
1.3%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Owasco and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,585±$18k 18% above NY |
$95,129±$24kLowest 11% above NY |
$102,245±$10k 19% above NY |
$105,219±$33kHighest 22% above NY |
| Berne and Owasco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,300±$33k 34% below NY |
$223,900±$30kLowest 47% below NY |
$282,100±$51k 33% below NY |
$296,300±$37kHighest 30% below NY |
| Berne and Owasco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $978±$217 40% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$2,109±$969Highest 30% above NY |
$983±$537 39% below NY |
| Owasco and Berne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,397Highest 18% below NY |
$3,775Lowest 43% below NY |
$5,171 21% below NY |
$4,331 34% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±36.7 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
13.9%±37.9 NY: 52.1% |
56.3%±87.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Berne and Sennett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7% NY: 14% |
4.3% NY: 14% |
3.1%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
94.2% NY: 54.3% |
94% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 14 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1971 12 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 36% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 min 28% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
12.8%±5.2 NY: 14.9% |
13.8%±5.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Berne and Owasco 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 | — | — | #448 of 484 in NY | #240 of 484 in NY |
| School district | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) | — | AUBURN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | HARRIET TUBMAN RESIDENTIAL CENTER | — | None in town | BERNE-KNOX-WESTERLO JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.8 |
| 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.