Compare towns
Java vs Wethersfield vs Altona
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).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Altona has the youngest population (median age 40).
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 | Wethersfield | Altona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049 |
815Lowest |
2,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-7.7% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
40±5Lowest about the NY average |
| 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% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
18.6%±5 NY: 17.9% |
| Java and Altona 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% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
6.1%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
0.2%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$51,367±$3kLowest 40% below 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 |
$151,400±$26k 64% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$997±$182Highest 38% below NY |
| Altona and Wethersfield 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 |
$2,787 58% below NY |
$1,687Lowest 74% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
69.5%±68.6Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Altona 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% |
9% NY: 14% |
19.2%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
77.7%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
1980Highest 21 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
27 min 16% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.3%±2.1Lowest 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 | 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.