Compare towns
Plainfield vs Walden vs Jasper
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Jasper has the most kids (33.6% 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.
| Measure | Plainfield | Walden | Jasper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,016Lowest |
1,037 |
1,308Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
37.3±7.4 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
33.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$80,588±$7k about the U.S. average |
| Walden and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$123,600±$13kLowest 63% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207 47% below U.S. |
$900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
$658±$149Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Walden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667 14% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,250Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±54.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 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 | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Jasper 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.