Compare towns
Arcade vs Java vs Wethersfield vs Central Square
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Arcade has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Arcade | Java | Wethersfield | Central Square |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,915 |
2,049 |
815Lowest |
2,163Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.7±4.6 12% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
| Wethersfield and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Wethersfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Arcade and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.5% NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,695±$4kLowest 32% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$69,500±$23k 19% below NY |
| Wethersfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,300±$19k 59% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
$196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $805±$176Lowest 50% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$916±$126Highest 43% below NY |
$908±$91 44% below NY |
| Wethersfield and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 40% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
$5,756Highest 13% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±14 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
15.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
54.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 14% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
26 minLowest 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 6.3%±4.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Central Square 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 | #260 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| 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.