Compare towns
Wells vs Chapman vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Wells | Chapman | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
388Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% 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 | 15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chapman and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$93,125±$17kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
| Wells and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
— | $900±$136Lowest 36% 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 | $3,308 6% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 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 | 15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.