Compare towns

Walden vs Wayne vs Cabot 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).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Cabot has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
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.

MeasureWaldenWayneCabotWells
People
Population
1,037
1,033Lowest
1,579Highest
1,148
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±3.2
25% above U.S.
62.6±3.6Highest
61% above U.S.
40.3±6.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
50.7±5.2
30% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
40.1%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±6.4
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
26.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.6
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±$15k
9% above U.S.
$90,938±$17kHighest
13% above U.S.
$77,031±$16k
5% below U.S.
$75,417±$11kLowest
7% below U.S.
Wayne 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±$23kLowest
28% below U.S.
$266,700±$150k
20% below U.S.
$268,500±$77kHighest
19% below U.S.
$243,000±$42k
27% below U.S.
Cabot and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$136Lowest
36% below U.S.
$1,031±$304
27% below U.S.
$1,243±$354
12% below U.S.
$1,313±$282Highest
7% below U.S.
Wells and Cabot 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.
$3,967
27% above U.S.
$4,639Highest
49% above U.S.
$3,308Lowest
6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8
U.S.: 51.1%
38.9%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±26.7
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%
6.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
7% above U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
48 minHighest
80% above U.S.
Work from home
21.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.3%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
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 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.