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Compare towns

Ada vs Slayton

232 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (2.7× in Ada) and growth since 2010 (+8.4 pts in Ada).

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Ada, MNOne of the safest townsMinnesota · 1,833 people
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Slayton, MNKnown for its schoolsMinnesota · 2,141 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

AdaOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 94%of U.S. towns we grade Housing$181K typical home48% below the MN typical home HistorySettled in 18743 places on the National Register All about Ada →
SlaytonKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 97%of MN districts SafetySafer than 81%of U.S. towns we grade Housing$256K typical home27% below the MN typical home All about Slayton →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails2.7×
Ada has more miles of trail
Ada 0.8 miSlayton 0.3 mi
Growth since 2010+8.4 pts
Ada has grown faster since 2010
Ada +1.9%Slayton -6.5%
Street grid+53%
Ada has the more walkable street grid
Ada 108Slayton 70.6
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $420 more a month in Slayton

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Ada$1,110/mo
Typical home $181K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.10% · or rent about $746/mo · Housing →
Slayton$1,530/mo
Typical home $256K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.90% · or rent about $752/mo · Housing →

The difference: $420 a month, about $5,000 a year, between Slayton and Ada.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
AAdaSafer than 94% of U.S. towns A−SlaytonSafer than 81% of U.S. towns
Schools
–AdaNot graded A+SlaytonBetter than 97% of districts in the state
Health
B−AdaHealthier than 54% of U.S. towns BSlaytonHealthier than 60% of U.S. towns
Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
AdaSlayton
Snow a year41″46″
January low-1°F4°F
July high82°F81°F
Growing season (days)143d145d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)31st37th
Outdoors & history
AdaSlayton
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled1874—
National Register places32
Archive photos6—
Famous people born here5—
Community
AdaSlayton
Library hours a week31 hrs41 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

232 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

AdaMNSlaytonMN
Ada ↔ Slayton232 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

AdaSlayton
People
Population 1,833Lowest 2,141Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.9%Highest MN: +7.6% -6.5%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 39.8±3.4Lowest about the MN average 39.9±6.2Highest about the MN average
Slayton and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.3%±2.4Highest MN: 22.9% 22.6%±3.4Lowest MN: 22.9%
Ada and Slayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.5%±3.6Lowest MN: 17.3% 25.3%±3.7Highest MN: 17.3%
Slayton and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.9%Highest MN: 39.4% 30%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.3%±2.9Highest MN: 5.8% 4.7%±2.5Lowest MN: 5.8%
Ada and Slayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $64,091±$14kHighest 28% below MN $62,344±$12kLowest 30% below MN
Ada and Slayton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $137,800±$20kLowest 58% below MN $161,700±$15kHighest 51% below MN
Slayton and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $746±$110Lowest 42% below MN $752±$135Highest 41% below MN
Slayton and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,511Highest 55% below MN $1,452Lowest 57% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.2%±15.2Lowest MN: 48.1% 54%±6Highest MN: 48.1%
Slayton and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 16.8%Highest MN: 9.3% 14.3%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 66.3%Lowest MN: 72.2% 74%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1963Lowest 16 yrs older than MN 1967Highest 12 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 30% below MN 17 minHighest 25% below MN
Work from home 3.3%±2.2Lowest MN: 17.6% 4.5%±2.4Highest MN: 17.6%
Slayton and Ada are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 37.5%Highest 31.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 15.8 miLowest 17.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.87Lowest 1.12Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Fargo (10%)Worthington (6%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SlaytonFew work in Ada
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 3Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 108Highest 70.6Lowest
Schools
School district Ada-Borup-West Public SchoolsMurray County Central Schools
High school in town Ada-Borup-West SecondaryMurray County Central High School
Students per teacherat that high school 12.8Lowest 18.0Highest
Minnesota average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Ada neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ada’s Town Square.

Slayton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Slayton’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Minnesota towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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