Compare towns
Minerva vs Walden vs Bellmont
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 oldest population (median age 56.2).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Bellmont has the most affordable homes ($128k median).
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 | Walden | Bellmont |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 836Lowest |
1,037 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
54.6±2.7 40% above U.S. |
| Minerva and Bellmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellmont and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Bellmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Minerva and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$70,250±$11k 13% below U.S. |
| Walden and Bellmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,800±$22k 48% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$127,600±$20kLowest 62% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$1,131±$319Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Bellmont and Walden 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. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,156Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±74.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.6%±22.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Bellmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Minerva 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 | 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.