Compare towns
Java vs Wethersfield vs Lyons Falls vs Russia
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%).
Wethersfield has the most renters (19.9% rent).
Lyons Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Russia has the most expensive homes ($232k 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 | Wethersfield | Lyons Falls | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
815 |
569Lowest |
2,272Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-12.3% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
46±4.4Highest 16% above NY |
42.5±15Lowest 7% above NY |
43.9±2.9 10% 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%±4.3 NY: 20.5% |
24.8%±5.8Highest NY: 20.5% |
21.3%±4.1 NY: 20.5% |
| Lyons Falls and Wethersfield 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% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
31.5%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9% |
20.8%±3.7 NY: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6% NY: 40.2% |
20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
20.5% NY: 40.2% |
28.5%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NY: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 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 |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$59,000±$18kLowest 31% below NY |
$86,116±$17k about the NY average |
| 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 |
$131,300±$20k 69% below NY |
$119,400±$42kLowest 72% below NY |
$232,200±$44kHighest 45% 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 |
$916±$126Highest 43% below NY |
$600±$137Lowest 63% below NY |
$888±$325 45% 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 |
$2,787 58% below NY |
$2,076Lowest 68% below NY |
$2,939 55% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
61.8%±58.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
31.1%±10.8 NY: 52.1% |
| Lyons Falls 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% NY: 14% |
10.2%Highest NY: 14% |
9.1% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
84% NY: 54.3% |
89.7% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1959 same as NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
25 minLowest 25% below NY |
33 minHighest about the NY average |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
2.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±3.5 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | — | POLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | POLAND JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.

