Compare towns
Java vs Seneca vs Waterville 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).
Seneca has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.8%).
Waterville has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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 | Seneca | Waterville | Wethersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
2,622Highest |
1,731 |
815Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-2.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-6.9% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
44.9±4.5 13% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
| Wethersfield and Waterville 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% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
18.8%±3.6Lowest 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% |
22.3%±4.5Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±1.6 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Seneca and Waterville 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% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
24.7%Highest NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4 NY: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$82,273±$13kLowest 4% 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±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$170,100±$12k 60% 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±$419 47% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$820±$132Lowest 49% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775Highest 43% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$3,425 48% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
24%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Wethersfield and Waterville 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% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
8.1% NY: 14% |
9%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1945 14 yrs older than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
22 minLowest 34% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6 NY: 14.9% |
14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
| Waterville and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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.