Compare towns
Newcomb vs Wayne vs Wells vs Minerva
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Wells has the most kids (15.1% under 18).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Newcomb | Wayne | Wells | Minerva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 490Lowest |
1,033 |
1,148Highest |
836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.1±10.1 52% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Lowest 30% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Newcomb and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,031±$304 27% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Wells and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$3,967Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9Highest 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 | 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.