Compare towns

Hampton vs Walden vs Smithville

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 renters (21.6% rent).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Smithville has the most kids (16.6% 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.

MeasureHamptonWaldenSmithville
People
Population
1,145
1,037Lowest
1,525Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
48.8±3.2Highest
25% above U.S.
43.1±3.2Lowest
11% 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%
14.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Smithville 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%
20.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±3.7Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Smithville and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$88,000±$15kHighest
9% above U.S.
$70,433±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Walden and Hampton 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.
$238,900±$23kHighest
28% below U.S.
$173,200±$42k
48% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$900±$136
36% below U.S.
$889±$186Lowest
37% below U.S.
Hampton and Walden 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.
$3,944
26% above U.S.
$4,254Highest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.3%±86.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±31.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Walden and Smithville 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%
9.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
4.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Walden and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 —
High school 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.