Compare towns
Unity vs Walden vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k 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 | Unity | Walden | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Highest |
1,037 |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Walden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Walden and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,196 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Unity School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.