Compare towns
Wells vs Otsego 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Otsego has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Otsego | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148 |
3,627Highest |
1,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
52.1±5.8Highest 34% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Otsego and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9 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+ | 24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Otsego 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±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$72,891±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Walden and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$352,600±$42kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 7% below U.S. |
$1,205±$165 15% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Wells and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,702Highest 51% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.6%±17.8Lowest 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Otsego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #65 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | COOPERSTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | COOPERSTOWN JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.