Compare towns

Wales vs Java 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).
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.

MeasureWalesJavaSeneca
People
Population
3,015Highest
2,049Lowest
2,622
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-2.8%
NY: +4.2%
Median age
43.9±6.6Lowest
10% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
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%
19.5%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
Wales and Java 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%±3.6Lowest
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%
22.1%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±0.7Lowest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4Highest
NY: 7%
2.2%±1.4
NY: 7%
Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,590±$19kLowest
3% above NY
$95,129±$24kHighest
11% above NY
$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
$192,700±$9kLowest
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±$419Lowest
47% 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
$2,810Lowest
57% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20.5%±27.8Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
7.2%±24.9
NY: 52.1%
Wales and Seneca 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%
6.2%Highest
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.8%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
91.6%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
12 yrs newer than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1945Lowest
14 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
25% below NY
27 minHighest
17% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
Work from home
7.2%±3.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
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 — —
School district IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — —
High school in town None in town — —
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.