What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sylvan Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Wethersfield has the most kids (21.6% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sylvan Beach	Wethersfield
People
Population	881Highest	815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55.4±7.9Highest 39% above NY	46±4.4Lowest 16% above NY
	Sylvan Beach and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.5%±6Lowest NY: 20.5%	21.6%±4.3Highest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	23.5%±4.2Highest NY: 17.9%	13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	20.3%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±2.5Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7%
	Wethersfield and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,000±$27kLowest 34% below NY	$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY
	Wethersfield and Sylvan Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$180,100±$24kHighest 58% below NY	$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,008±$181Highest 38% below NY	$916±$126Lowest 43% below NY
	Sylvan Beach and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,211Highest 36% below NY	$2,787Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±31.7Highest NY: 52.1%	30.2%±38.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Sylvan Beach and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest NY: 14%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%	80.1%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% below NY	28 minLowest 13% below NY
Work from home	10.1%±9.7Highest NY: 14.9%	6.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 14.9%
	Sylvan Beach 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

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.