Compare towns
Lempster vs Sheldon vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Lempster | Sheldon | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.2±12.1 24% above U.S. |
| Lempster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Richmond and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,375±$27kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$313,400±$26kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Richmond and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558 46% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,203Highest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lempster 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 |
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.