Compare towns

Hancock vs Wayne vs Whiting

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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.

MeasureHancockWayneWhiting
People
Population
435Lowest
1,033Highest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
33.8±11.6Lowest
13% below U.S.
62.6±3.6Highest
61% above U.S.
39.6±2.7
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
17.2%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
40.1%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
34.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Whiting and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$76,250±$34kLowest
6% below U.S.
$90,938±$17k
13% above U.S.
$91,250±$38kHighest
13% above U.S.
Whiting and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$187,900±$11kLowest
44% below U.S.
$266,700±$150k
20% below U.S.
$280,400±$36kHighest
16% below U.S.
Whiting and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$939±$19Lowest
34% below U.S.
$1,031±$304
27% below U.S.
$1,204±$519Highest
15% below U.S.
Whiting and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,511Lowest
13% above U.S.
$3,967
27% above U.S.
$4,227Highest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
3.5%±16.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±37.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whiting and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
65.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
28 minHighest
7% above U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Hancock 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

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.