Compare towns
Sheldon vs Seneca vs Wethersfield vs Java
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).
Seneca has the most people working from home (10.9%).
Wethersfield has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Java has the most expensive homes ($224k 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 | Sheldon | Seneca | Wethersfield | Java |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,216 |
2,622Highest |
815Lowest |
2,049 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.8% NY: +4.2% |
-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY |
44.5±6.2 12% above NY |
46±4.4 16% above NY |
44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
| Sheldon and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5% |
19.5%±3.9 NY: 20.5% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7 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+ | 25%±3.2Highest NY: 17.9% |
22.3%±4.5 NY: 17.9% |
13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
22.1% NY: 40.2% |
20.3% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 NY: 7% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NY: 7% |
4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
| Wethersfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,214±$5kLowest 17% below NY |
$90,658±$21k 5% above NY |
$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY |
$95,129±$24k 11% 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 | $175,900±$14k 58% below NY |
$192,700±$9k 55% below NY |
$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
| Java and Seneca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $818±$84Lowest 50% below NY |
$1,549±$420Highest 4% below NY |
$916±$126 43% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,037 54% below NY |
$2,810 57% below NY |
$2,787Lowest 58% below NY |
$3,775Highest 43% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1% |
7.2%±24.9 NY: 52.1% |
30.2%±38.9 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
| Sheldon and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.8%Highest NY: 14% |
6.2% NY: 14% |
9% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6% NY: 54.3% |
91.6% NY: 54.3% |
80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 4 yrs newer than NY |
1945Lowest 14 yrs older than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest about the NY average |
27 minLowest 17% below NY |
28 min 13% below NY |
27 min 17% below NY |
| Work from home | 2.2%±1.6Lowest NY: 14.9% |
10.9%±3.6Highest NY: 14.9% |
6.8%±3.4 NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4 NY: 14.9% |
| Seneca 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 | 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.