Compare towns
Hampton vs Wolcott vs Sheldon 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 affordable homes ($167k median).
Wolcott has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Smithville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Wolcott | Sheldon | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145Lowest |
1,507 |
2,267Highest |
1,525 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9 9% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Wolcott 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Smithville 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% |
31.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithville and Wolcott 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. |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$70,433±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$221,300±$23k 33% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Wolcott 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. |
$1,059±$118 25% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 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. |
$3,930 26% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%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. |
1984 4 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 |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolcott and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Wolcott School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| High school in town | — | None 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.