Compare towns
Walden vs Jefferson vs Wells
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Jefferson has the most expensive homes ($297k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Jefferson | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,013Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Jefferson 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% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Walden 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% |
33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson 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% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Wells 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. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% 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. |
$4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | 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 | 14 photos → | 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.