Compare towns
Centerville vs Java vs Waterford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Centerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k median).
Waterford has the most people working from home (14%).
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 | Centerville | Java | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 700Lowest |
2,049 |
2,085Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 26.2±7.8Lowest 34% below NY |
44.2±5.5Highest 11% above NY |
42.4±5.7 7% above NY |
| Java and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 34.3%±0.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
16.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 12.4%±4.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
25.7%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.8%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.3%±2.9Highest NY: 7% |
| Waterford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,000±$21k 3% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$72,938±$12kLowest 15% below NY |
| Java and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $119,800±$49kLowest 72% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$157,500±$30k 63% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $556±$489Lowest 66% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,082±$91Highest 33% below NY |
| Waterford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,981Lowest 55% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,534 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.1%±52.6 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
26.5%±11.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Waterford and Centerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
53.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 28 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 9.4%±6.1 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14%±8.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterford and Centerville 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 | — | — | #286 of 484 in NY |
| 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.