Compare towns

Minerva vs Walden vs Summit

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 renters (12% rent).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Summit has the most kids (17.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureMinervaWaldenSummit
People
Population
836Lowest
1,037Highest
976
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.2±5.7Highest
44% above U.S.
48.8±3.2Lowest
25% above U.S.
55.7±7.3
43% above U.S.
Minerva and Summit 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%
17.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Summit and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35.8%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
37.7%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Summit 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%
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±2Lowest
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.
$74,375±$26k
8% below U.S.
Walden and Summit 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.
$150,000±$29kLowest
55% below U.S.
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.
$2,230Lowest
29% 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%
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
11.6%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±4.2Lowest
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.