Compare towns
Walden vs Arkwright vs Wells vs Stannard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Arkwright has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Wells has the most expensive homes ($243k median).
Stannard has the most homeowners (98.1%).
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 | Walden | Arkwright | Wells | Stannard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,037 |
859 |
1,148Highest |
228Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
50.8±7.2Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
48.3±14.6Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Arkwright and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Arkwright and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stannard and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Arkwright are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$93,000±$26kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$66,979±$30kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Arkwright and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$170,900±$30kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$216,200±$44k 35% below U.S. |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$875±$689Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
— |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,760 21% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,183Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
98.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Wells 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 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 1 photos → | 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.