Compare towns
Central Square vs Java vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Waterville has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,163Highest |
2,049 |
1,731Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY |
| Waterville 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%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Central Square 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% |
21.5%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Java 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%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.7% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
| Central Square and Java 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 |
$82,273±$13k 4% below NY |
| Java and Waterville 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 |
$170,100±$12kLowest 60% 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±$91Highest 44% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$820±$132Lowest 49% below NY |
| Central Square and Java 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 |
$3,425Lowest 48% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
24%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Waterville 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% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 21% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
22 minLowest 34% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.3%±6.7 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterville and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.