Compare towns
Minerva vs Walden vs Newcomb
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).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 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.
| Measure | Minerva | Walden | Newcomb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 836 |
1,037Highest |
490Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Newcomb 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% |
14.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Walden and Minerva 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% |
31.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Newcomb 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% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Newcomb and Walden 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. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$254,800±$47kHighest 23% below U.S. |
| Newcomb and Walden 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. |
$900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
— |
| Walden and Minerva 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. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8Lowest 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.