Compare towns
Minerva vs Sheldon vs Indian Lake
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Indian Lake has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Minerva | Sheldon | Indian Lake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 836Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,268 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62±3.1Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Indian Lake and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
41.2%±7.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Indian Lake and Minerva 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,303±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,824±$17kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$254,800±$32k 23% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Indian Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$825±$194 42% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Indian Lake are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,608 16% below U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,505Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Indian Lake and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±19.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Indian Lake and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.