Compare towns
Java vs Wethersfield vs Fort Drum
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 homeowners (95.2%).
Wethersfield has the oldest population (median age 46).
Fort Drum has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.7%).
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 | Fort Drum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,049 |
815Lowest |
16,065Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+22.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
23.3±0.9Lowest 41% below 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%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
31.4%±3Highest NY: 20.5% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5 NY: 17.9% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
34.8%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8 NY: 7% |
12.4%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24k 11% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$62,291±$8kLowest 28% 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 |
— |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419Lowest 47% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$1,622±$86Highest about the NY average |
| 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%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
55.9%±11.4Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Fort Drum 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% |
11.7%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1% NY: 54.3% |
4%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1977 18 yrs newer than NY |
2004Highest 45 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
28 minHighest 13% below NY |
11 minLowest 66% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
12.7%±2.5Highest NY: 14.9% |
| Fort Drum and Java 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.