Compare towns
Walden vs Wayne 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 most people working from home (21.4%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
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 | Wayne | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,037 |
1,033Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% 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% |
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% |
40.1%±6Highest 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%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% |
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. |
$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±$150kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Wayne and Wells 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. |
$1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Wayne 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. |
$3,967Highest 27% 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% |
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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Lowest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% 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% |
11.3%±6.2 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 | 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.