Compare towns
Wales vs Java vs Kendall 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
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Kendall has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Wales | Java | Kendall | Seneca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,015Highest |
2,049Lowest |
2,591 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-3.9% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.9±6.6 10% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.1±6.6Lowest about the NY average |
44.5±6.2Highest 12% above NY |
| Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
24.5%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Wales and Kendall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±5.7 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.7%±4.2Lowest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
22.7% NY: 40.2% |
22.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.7Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Highest NY: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
| Java and Kendall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,590±$19k 3% above NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$87,734±$14kLowest about the NY average |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,800±$33kHighest 42% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$191,200±$28kLowest 55% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
| Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$503 41% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$850±$314Lowest 48% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
| Seneca and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,782Highest 27% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$4,328 34% below NY |
$2,810Lowest 57% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20.5%±27.8 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
51.5%±36.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Kendall and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
6.9%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.5%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 12 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1960 1 yr newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 25% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 7.2%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
3.1%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca and Java 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 | #321 of 484 in NY | — | #46 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | KENDALL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | KENDALL JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.