Compare towns
Java vs Freedom vs Wethersfield vs Russia
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%).
Freedom has the youngest population (median age 43.2).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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.
| Measure | Java | Freedom | Wethersfield | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,483Highest |
815Lowest |
2,272 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-12.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.2±7Lowest 9% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
43.9±2.9 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 | 20.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
18.6%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Wethersfield and Russia 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% |
16.6%±2.9 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
| Russia 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% |
15.5%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
3.9%±2.8 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield and Freedom 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 |
$73,646±$24kLowest 14% below NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
| 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 |
$176,900±$19k 58% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
| Russia 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 |
$519±$219Lowest 68% below NY |
$916±$126Highest 43% below NY |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
| Wethersfield and Russia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$3,443 48% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
$2,939 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
10.1%±32.5 NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Russia 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% |
7% NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
9.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
88.9% NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1982Highest 23 yrs newer than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
28 min 15% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.9%±2.9 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.