Compare towns
Java vs Caroline vs Pike 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 the most homeowners (95.2%).
Caroline has the most people working from home (22.1%).
Pike has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Caroline | Pike | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
3,280Highest |
812Lowest |
815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+1.6%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.5% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.5±3.5Lowest about the NY average |
48.3±4.4Highest 21% above NY |
46±4.4 16% above NY |
| Pike and Wethersfield 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%±5.3 NY: 20.5% |
17.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
18.5%±4.2 NY: 17.9% |
25.2%±6Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Pike and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
59.1%Highest NY: 40.2% |
15.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.8%±2.1 NY: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield and Caroline 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 |
$80,855±$21k 6% below NY |
$71,250±$11kLowest 17% 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±$30k 47% below NY |
$234,200±$40kHighest 45% below NY |
$129,100±$18kLowest 70% below NY |
$131,300±$20k 69% below NY |
| Caroline and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$1,398±$416Highest 14% below NY |
$810±$762Lowest 50% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
| Caroline 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 |
$5,703Highest 13% below NY |
$2,947 55% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
43.3%±15.4 NY: 52.1% |
83.7%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
14.6%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
65.6%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.5% NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 35% below NY |
22 min 33% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
22.1%±9.3Highest NY: 14.9% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Caroline 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 | — | #345 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | — | NEW YORK STATE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) · ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | — | MACCORMICK SECURE CENTER | — | — |
| 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.