Compare towns

Java vs Caroline 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%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).

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.

MeasureJavaCarolineWethersfield
People
Population
2,049
3,280Highest
815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
+1.6%Highest
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
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
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
17.9%±5.3Lowest
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%±3.6Highest
NY: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
NY: 17.9%
13.1%±2.5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
Java and Caroline 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%
20.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3%±2.4Lowest
NY: 7%
3.8%±2.1
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±$21kLowest
6% 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
$131,300±$20kLowest
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±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$1,398±$416Highest
14% 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
$2,787Lowest
58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
43.3%±15.4Highest
NY: 52.1%
30.2%±38.9
NY: 52.1%
Caroline and Wethersfield 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%
14.6%Highest
NY: 14%
9%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
65.6%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
80.1%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Lowest
3 yrs older than NY
1970
11 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
28 minHighest
13% below NY
Work from home
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
22.1%±9.3Highest
NY: 14.9%
6.8%±3.4Lowest
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

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.