Compare towns

Seneca vs Wethersfield vs Java vs Wales

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Wales has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

MeasureSenecaWethersfieldJavaWales
People
Population
2,622
815Lowest
2,049
3,015Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%
NY: +4.2%
-14.5%Lowest
NY: +4.2%
-4.1%
NY: +4.2%
+0.1%Highest
NY: +4.2%
Median age
44.5±6.2
12% above NY
46±4.4Highest
16% above NY
44.2±5.5
11% above NY
43.9±6.6Lowest
10% above NY
Wethersfield and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±3.9Lowest
NY: 20.5%
21.6%±4.3
NY: 20.5%
20.7%±4.7
NY: 20.5%
25.2%±5.8Highest
NY: 20.5%
Wales and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.3%±4.5Highest
NY: 17.9%
13.1%±2.5Lowest
NY: 17.9%
19.5%±3.6
NY: 17.9%
22.1%±5.7
NY: 17.9%
Seneca and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%
NY: 40.2%
20.3%Lowest
NY: 40.2%
24.6%
NY: 40.2%
25.4%Highest
NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.4
NY: 7%
4.2%±3.8Highest
NY: 7%
3%±2.4
NY: 7%
0.8%±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
$90,658±$21k
5% above NY
$96,094±$14kHighest
12% above NY
$95,129±$24k
11% above NY
$88,590±$19kLowest
3% 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
$192,700±$9k
55% below NY
$131,300±$20kLowest
69% below NY
$223,900±$30k
47% below NY
$244,800±$33kHighest
42% below NY
Wales and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,549±$420Highest
4% below NY
$916±$126
43% below NY
$863±$419Lowest
47% below NY
$950±$503
41% below NY
Seneca and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,810
57% below NY
$2,787Lowest
58% below NY
$3,775
43% below NY
$4,782Highest
27% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.2%±24.9
NY: 52.1%
30.2%±38.9Highest
NY: 52.1%
2.5%±61.4Lowest
NY: 52.1%
20.5%±27.8
NY: 52.1%
Wethersfield and Wales are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
NY: 14%
9%Highest
NY: 14%
3.7%Lowest
NY: 14%
4.3%
NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.6%
NY: 54.3%
80.1%Lowest
NY: 54.3%
95.2%Highest
NY: 54.3%
88.8%
NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
14 yrs older than NY
1977Highest
18 yrs newer than NY
1956
3 yrs older than NY
1971
12 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% below NY
28 minHighest
13% below NY
27 min
17% below NY
25 minLowest
25% below NY
Work from home
10.9%±3.6Highest
NY: 14.9%
6.8%±3.4Lowest
NY: 14.9%
9%±4.4
NY: 14.9%
7.2%±3.4
NY: 14.9%
Seneca and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — — #321 of 484 in NY
School district — — — IROQUOIS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town — — — None in town
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.