Compare towns
Summit vs Wells vs Worcester 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
Summit has the most affordable homes ($150k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Worcester has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Minerva has the most renters (12% rent).
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 | Wells | Worcester | Minerva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 976 |
1,148 |
2,149Highest |
836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.7±7.3 43% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
43.2±6.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7Highest 44% 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% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±5.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 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. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$69,886±$23k 13% below U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$155,300±$43k 53% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22k 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$736±$327Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$784±$102 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,230Lowest 29% below U.S. |
$3,308Highest 6% above U.S. |
$2,602 17% below U.S. |
$2,608 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
91.8%±41.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Wells 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% |
15.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
88%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±4.6 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.