Compare towns
Waterville vs Java vs Central Square
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Java has the most homeowners (95.2%).
Central Square has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Waterville | Java | Central Square |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,731Lowest |
2,049 |
2,163Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.9%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
-4.1% NY: +4.2% |
+0.8%Highest NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.9±4.5Highest 13% above NY |
44.2±5.5 11% above NY |
43.3±8Lowest 9% above NY |
| Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.6Lowest NY: 20.5% |
20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
19.7%±4.7 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±1.6Highest NY: 17.9% |
19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1Lowest NY: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.7% NY: 40.2% |
24.6%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
26.3%Highest NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.1Lowest NY: 7% |
3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
4.5%±2.3Highest NY: 7% |
| Central Square and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,273±$13k 4% below NY |
$95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$69,500±$23kLowest 19% below NY |
| Java and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,100±$12kLowest 60% below NY |
$223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$196,000±$20k 54% below NY |
| Java and Central Square are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $820±$132Lowest 49% below NY |
$863±$419 47% below NY |
$908±$91Highest 44% below NY |
| Central Square and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,425Lowest 48% below NY |
$3,775 43% below NY |
$5,756Highest 13% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24%±10.3 NY: 52.1% |
2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
44%±13.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
| Central Square and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NY: 14% |
3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
15.1%Highest NY: 14% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
54.8% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY |
1956 3 yrs older than NY |
1979Highest 20 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 34% below NY |
27 minHighest 17% below NY |
26 min 21% below NY |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3Highest NY: 14.9% |
9%±4.4Lowest NY: 14.9% |
13.3%±6.7 NY: 14.9% |
| Waterville and Central Square 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.