What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Heath	Walden
People
Population	765Lowest	1,037Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S.	48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Heath and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	14.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Walden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Walden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S.	$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Heath and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S.	$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S.
	Heath and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$900±$136 36% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Highest 42% above U.S.	$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.4%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Heath and Walden 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

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.