Compare towns
Washington 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
Washington has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Washington | Jefferson | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
1,226Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 36% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest 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+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$67,083±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37k 35% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
— | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Wells and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$3,602Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | 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.