Compare towns
Summit vs Walden vs Minerva vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Summit has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Minerva has the most renters (12% rent).
Worcester has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Summit | Walden | Minerva | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 976 |
1,037 |
836Lowest |
2,149Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±7.3 43% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.2±6.9Lowest 11% 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 | 17.7%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Worcester and Summit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.6Lowest 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+ | 28.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,375±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$69,886±$23k 13% 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 | $150,000±$29kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22k 48% below U.S. |
$155,300±$43k 53% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$136Highest 36% below U.S. |
$784±$102 45% below U.S. |
$736±$327Lowest 48% 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 | $2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
$2,602 17% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.8%±41.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.6 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 | 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.