Compare towns
Central Square vs Java vs Wethersfield vs Arcade
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%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Arcade has the most renters (49.4% rent).
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 | Wethersfield | Arcade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,163Highest |
2,049 |
815Lowest |
1,915 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
44.7±4.6 12% 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 | 19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 16.8%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest 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+ | 26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.3 NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
8.5%±6.5Highest 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 | $69,500±$23k 19% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$58,695±$4kLowest 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 | $196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
$172,300±$19k 59% 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±$419 47% below NY |
$916±$126Highest 43% below NY |
$805±$176Lowest 50% 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 | $5,756Highest 13% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,938 40% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
42.7%±14 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 | 15.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
17.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 21% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
28 min 14% below NY |
| Work from home | 13.3%±6.7Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.3%±4.3Lowest 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.