Compare towns
Independence vs Java vs Sardinia 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
Independence has the most affordable homes ($101k median).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Sardinia has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.1%).
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 | Independence | Java | Sardinia | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 756Lowest |
2,049 |
2,703Highest |
815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.9Lowest 5% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
42.5±7.5 7% 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 | 21.2%±4.6 NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
22.4%±6.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Sardinia and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.4 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±4.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Sardinia and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.4%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
21.7% NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.9Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
5%±2.9 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
| Independence and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,750±$15kLowest 20% below NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$84,583±$34k about the NY average |
$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 | $100,800±$27kLowest 76% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$218,900±$19k 48% below NY |
$131,300±$20k 69% below NY |
| Java and Sardinia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $609±$84Lowest 62% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$855±$83 47% below NY |
$916±$126Highest 43% below NY |
| Wethersfield and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,606 60% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,233Lowest 66% below NY |
$2,787 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±29.2 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
4.5%±28.2 NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Wethersfield and Independence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
12.4%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
90.8% NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1961 2 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% below NY |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
30 minHighest 10% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 1.3%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.2%±6.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Sardinia and Java 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 | 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.