Compare towns
Jefferson vs Walden vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Walden | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
1,037 |
1,072Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
53±4 36% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoddard and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$94,904±$11kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$330,300±$20kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Stoddard and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
$895±$751 37% below U.S. |
| Walden and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 35% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,316Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Jefferson 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 | Stoddard School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | 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.