Compare towns
Champion vs Fort Drum vs Java vs Wethersfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fort Drum has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.7%).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Wethersfield has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Champion | Fort Drum | Java | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,530 |
16,065Highest |
2,049 |
815Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5% NY: +4.2% |
+22.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 40±3 about the NY average |
23.3±0.9Lowest 41% below NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
| Wethersfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±4 NY: 20.5% |
31.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.2% NY: 40.2% |
34.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
12.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,875±$13kLowest 34% below NY |
$62,291±$8k 28% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above 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 | $198,900±$16k 53% below NY |
— | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
| Java and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,054±$255 35% below NY |
$1,622±$86Highest about the NY average |
$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,247 51% below NY |
— | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.3%±15.7 NY: 52.1% |
55.9%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Fort Drum and Champion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19%Highest NY: 14% |
11.7% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.9% NY: 54.3% |
4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
2004Highest 45 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 38% below NY |
11 minLowest 66% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.2%±4.9 NY: 14.9% |
12.7%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Fort Drum 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 | #309 of 484 in NY | — | — | — |
| School district | CARTHAGE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | — |
| High school in town | CARTHAGE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.