Compare towns
Wells vs Thurman 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%).
Thurman has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Walden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Thurman | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,148Highest |
977Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Thurman and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Thurman and Wells 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% |
28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thurman 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% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Highest 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 | $75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$58,750±$14kLowest 27% 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±$42kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$197,400±$43kLowest 41% 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±$282 7% below U.S. |
$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Thurman and Wells 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. |
$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$3,944Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.1%±77.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Thurman 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.