Compare towns
Central Square vs Java vs Harford 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
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Harford has the most affordable homes ($110k median).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Central Square | Java | Harford | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,163Highest |
2,049 |
980Lowest |
2,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-7.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+2.4%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.3±8 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46.6±13Highest 17% above NY |
42.4±5.7Lowest 7% above NY |
| Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.4%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
16.8%±4.5Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Harford and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
25.7%±5.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterford and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
19%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1Lowest NY: 7% |
4.3%±2.9 NY: 7% |
| Central Square and Waterford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,500±$23kLowest 19% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$75,905±$3k 12% below NY |
$72,938±$12k 15% below NY |
| Java and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$109,800±$40kLowest 74% below NY |
$157,500±$30k 63% 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 | $908±$91 44% below NY |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$1,019±$119 37% below NY |
$1,082±$91Highest 33% below NY |
| Waterford and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$3,684 44% below NY |
$3,534Lowest 46% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
35.3%±24.2 NY: 52.1% |
26.5%±11.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Harford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
13.6% NY: 14% |
10.6% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
75.6% NY: 54.3% |
53.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 21% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.3%±6.7 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.2%±8.8 NY: 14.9% |
14%±8.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterford and Central Square 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 | 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.