Compare towns
Binghamton vs Java vs Wethersfield vs Schenectady
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Binghamton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Wethersfield has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Schenectady 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 | Binghamton | Java | Wethersfield | Schenectady |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 47,151 |
2,049 |
815Lowest |
68,847Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+1.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 35.9±1.6Lowest 10% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
36.1±1 9% below NY |
| Wethersfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.9%±1.2 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+ | 18%±1.3 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
25.4% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±2Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
9.8%±1 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $45,578±$3kLowest 47% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$58,399±$3k 32% 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 | $124,800±$7kLowest 71% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$131,300±$20k 69% below NY |
$168,800±$5k 60% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $870±$38 46% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$1,145±$33Highest 29% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,622 45% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
$4,874Highest 26% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±3.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
58.5%±4.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Schenectady and Binghamton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 32.6%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
23.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
45.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 14 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1941Lowest 18 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 42% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.3%±2 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±1.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schenectady and Binghamton 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 | #426 of 484 in NY | — | — | #400 of 484 in NY |
| School district | BINGHAMTON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | SCHENECTADY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | BINGHAMTON HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | — | 13.3Highest |
| 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.