What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sylvan Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Seneca has the most kids (19.5% under 18).

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	Sylvan Beach	Seneca
People
Population	881Lowest	2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±7.9Highest 39% above NY	44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY
	Sylvan Beach and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.5%±6Lowest NY: 20.5%	19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	23.5%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%	22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Sylvan Beach and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.5Highest NY: 7%	2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7%
	Sylvan Beach and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,000±$27kLowest 34% below NY	$90,658±$21kHighest 5% above NY
	Seneca and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$180,100±$24kLowest 58% below NY	$192,700±$9kHighest 55% below NY
	Seneca and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,008±$181Lowest 38% below NY	$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY
	Seneca and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,211Highest 36% below NY	$2,810Lowest 57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±31.7Highest NY: 52.1%	7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sylvan Beach and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest NY: 14%	6.2%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	91.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 3 yrs older than NY	1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	27 minLowest 17% below NY
Work from home	10.1%±9.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Seneca and Sylvan Beach 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.