Compare towns

Hampton vs Sheldon vs Wallingford

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 people working from home (13%).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

MeasureHamptonSheldonWallingford
People
Population
1,145Lowest
2,267
2,286Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
45.9±10.8Highest
18% above U.S.
Wallingford and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±5
U.S.: 22%
Sheldon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wallingford and Hampton 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%
30.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hampton and Sheldon 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
$80,230±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
Wallingford 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.
$261,900±$44k
21% below U.S.
Sheldon and Wallingford 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.
$891±$95Lowest
37% 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.
$4,355Highest
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
14.3%±13.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Wallingford 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%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
5% below U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sheldon and Hampton 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 Mill River Unified Union School District #52
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.