Compare towns
Ira vs Java vs Wethersfield vs Lysander
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Lysander has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Ira | Java | Wethersfield | Lysander |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,019 |
2,049 |
815Lowest |
23,086Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 8% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
43.6±1.9 10% 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 | 20.2%±3.2Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
24.4%±2.9Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Lysander and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.9 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Lysander are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
47.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
3.6%±0.9 NY: 7% |
| Ira and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,019±$11k 13% above NY |
$95,129±$24kLowest 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14k 12% above NY |
$107,984±$5kHighest 26% above NY |
| Lysander and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $158,800±$16k 63% below NY |
$223,900±$30k 47% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
$288,400±$18kHighest 32% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$1,130±$100Highest 30% below NY |
| Lysander and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,594 45% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
$6,748Highest about the NY average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±35.4 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
54.5%±10.5Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Lysander and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
9%Highest NY: 14% |
5.8% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
81.5% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 17 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1985Highest 26 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 7% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
24 minLowest 26% below NY |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
16.6%±3.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #158 of 484 in NY |
| School district | CATO-MERIDIAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — | BALDWINSVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — | — | CHARLES W BAKER HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | — | 15.4Highest |
| 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.