Compare towns

Walden vs Webster 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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% 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.

MeasureWaldenWebsterWells
People
Population
1,037Lowest
2,227Highest
1,148
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.8±3.2
25% above U.S.
44.7±7.6Lowest
15% above U.S.
50.7±5.2Highest
30% above U.S.
Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Webster and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Walden 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%
30.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Walden and Webster 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.
$107,171±$14kHighest
33% above U.S.
$75,417±$11kLowest
7% below U.S.
Webster 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.
$338,500±$30kHighest
about the U.S. average
$243,000±$42k
27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$900±$136Lowest
36% below U.S.
$1,396±$622Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,313±$282
7% below U.S.
Webster and Wells 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.
$6,021Highest
93% above U.S.
$3,308Lowest
6% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.3%±86.8
U.S.: 51.1%
53.6%±71Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.4%Lowest
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.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
16% above U.S.
48 minHighest
80% above U.S.
Work from home
21.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9
U.S.: 15.1%
11.3%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Walden and Webster 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 Merrimack Valley School District Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
High school in town None 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.