Compare towns
Hampton vs Sheldon vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Hampton | Sheldon | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,145 |
2,267Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Walden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.