What stands out worked out from the figures below

Java has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Java	Wethersfield
People
Population	2,049Highest	815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY	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%±4.7Lowest 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%	13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.6%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.4Lowest 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±$24kLowest 11% 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	$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$863±$419Lowest 47% below NY	$916±$126Highest 43% below NY
	Wethersfield and Java 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	$2,787Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1%	30.2%±38.9Highest NY: 52.1%
	Wethersfield and Java 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%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 17% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9%	6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Java and Wethersfield 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

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.