Compare towns
Black Brook vs Stratton vs Whiting vs Minerva
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Black Brook has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Minerva has the most people working from home (11.6%).
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 | Black Brook | Stratton | Whiting | Minerva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,315Highest |
532Lowest |
532Lowest |
836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±5.8Highest 45% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
39.6±2.7 about the U.S. average |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
| Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,852±$20k 16% below U.S. |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $202,200±$48k 39% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $783±$461Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$784±$102 45% below U.S. |
| Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,633 16% above U.S. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±32 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Minerva and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.