Compare towns
Java vs Arcade vs Mentz 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
Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).
Arcade has the most renters (49.4% rent).
Mentz has the most affordable homes ($116k median).
Wethersfield has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Java | Arcade | Mentz | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049Highest |
1,915 |
1,753 |
815Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-7.9% NY: +4.2% |
-11.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
44.7±4.6 12% above NY |
43.1±5.3Lowest 8% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% 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 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±3.5 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest 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+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 NY: 17.9% |
23.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Mentz and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
22.5% NY: 40.2% |
9.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
8.5%±6.5Highest NY: 7% |
3.7%±3.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
| Arcade and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$58,695±$4k 32% below NY |
$52,602±$5kLowest 39% below 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 | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$172,300±$19k 59% below NY |
$115,500±$31kLowest 73% below NY |
$131,300±$20k 69% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$805±$176Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,045±$130Highest 36% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
| Mentz and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$3,938Highest 40% below NY |
$2,901 56% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
42.7%±14 NY: 52.1% |
55.3%±24.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Mentz and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
17.7% NY: 14% |
20%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
50.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
74.2% NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1962 3 yrs newer than NY |
1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
28 min 14% below NY |
29 minHighest 13% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.3%±4.3 NY: 14.9% |
3.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Wethersfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | — | PORT BYRON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | — | PORT BYRON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.