Compare towns
Minerva vs Wells vs Black Brook
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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Black Brook has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Wells | Black Brook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 836Lowest |
1,148 |
1,315Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Lowest 30% above U.S. |
56.5±5.8Highest 45% above U.S. |
| Black Brook and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Black Brook 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Black Brook 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% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Black Brook and Minerva 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. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$67,852±$20k 16% below U.S. |
| Wells and Black Brook 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. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$202,200±$48k 39% below U.S. |
| Wells and Black Brook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $784±$102 45% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$783±$461Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$3,633Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±74.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±32 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Black Brook 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±7.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Minerva and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| 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.