Compare towns
Java vs Orleans vs Seneca 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 expensive homes ($224k median).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Seneca has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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.
| Measure | Java | Orleans | Seneca | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,778Highest |
2,622 |
815Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
0%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
40.2±5.4Lowest about the NY average |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
| Wethersfield and Seneca 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% |
27.4%±5.5Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
| Orleans and Wethersfield 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% |
22.7%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Orleans and Seneca 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% |
24.5% NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield and Java 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 |
$77,500±$11kLowest 10% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above 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 |
$190,300±$45k 55% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
| Java and Seneca 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 |
$1,061±$289 35% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
| Seneca and Orleans 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 |
$2,380Lowest 64% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$2,787 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
50.6%±5.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Orleans 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% |
8% NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
78.8%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1970 11 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
21 minLowest 36% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
18.2%±13.1Highest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Orleans and Seneca 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 | — | #212 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| 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.