Compare towns
Sylvan Beach 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
Sylvan Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($176k median).
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.
| Measure | Sylvan Beach | Sheldon | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 881Lowest |
2,216 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-1.7% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 55.4±7.9Highest 39% above NY |
48.9±7.6 23% above NY |
44.5±6.2Lowest 12% above NY |
| Sylvan Beach and Sheldon 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% |
14.9%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Seneca and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Sylvan Beach 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% |
13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.5 NY: 7% |
3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
| Sheldon and Sylvan Beach 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 |
$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 | $180,100±$24k 58% below NY |
$175,900±$14kLowest 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±$181 38% below NY |
$818±$84Lowest 50% 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 |
$3,037 54% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.7 NY: 52.1% |
50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% NY: 14% |
11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.6%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1963Highest 4 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 10.1%±9.7 NY: 14.9% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest 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 | 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.