Compare towns
Java vs Russia vs Afton 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 people working from home (9%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k median).
Afton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
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 | Russia | Afton | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,272 |
2,733Highest |
815Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-12.3% NY: +4.2% |
-2.9%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.9±2.9Lowest 10% above NY |
47.6±6.3Highest 20% above NY |
46±4.4 16% above NY |
| Afton 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% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±4.7Lowest NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest 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% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
22%±4.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Afton and Russia 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% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
11.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 NY: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield and Russia 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 |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
$51,736±$13kLowest 40% 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 |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% below NY |
$125,700±$23kLowest 70% below NY |
$131,300±$20k 69% 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 |
$888±$325 45% below NY |
$826±$212Lowest 49% below NY |
$916±$126Highest 43% 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 |
$2,939 55% below NY |
$3,395 48% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
66%±45.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
| Afton and Russia 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% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
12.1%Highest NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
71.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
1952Lowest 7 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
23 minLowest 29% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
4.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | — | — | #418 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | AFTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | AFTON JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
6.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.