Compare towns
Solvay vs Sheldon vs Seneca
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Solvay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Sheldon has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
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 | Solvay | Sheldon | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,544Highest |
2,216Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 38.9±2.3Lowest about the NY average |
48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.5±6.2 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 | 22.4%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
| Solvay and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Highest NY: 40.2% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.5Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Solvay and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,166±$7kLowest 29% below NY |
$71,214±$5k 17% below NY |
$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY |
| Seneca and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $150,000±$13kLowest 65% below NY |
$175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$192,700±$9kHighest 55% below NY |
| Seneca and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $946±$77 42% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,459Highest 32% below NY |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±9.2 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Solvay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.3%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 12 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 41% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.2 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Solvay 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 |
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.