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Compare towns

Aurora vs Colman

22 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+90.1 pts in Aurora) and jobs per worker (7.6× in Colman).

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Aurora, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 1,444 people
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Colman, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 948 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.

AuroraOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 77%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Aurora →
ColmanKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 31%of SD districts All about Colman →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

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

Growth since 2010+90.1 pts
Aurora has grown faster since 2010
Aurora +96.8%Colman +6.7%
Jobs per worker7.6×
Colman is more of a job hub
Colman 1.22Aurora 0.16
Street grid2.4×
Aurora has the more walkable street grid
Aurora 63.8Colman 26.2
Average commute14 min
Aurora has the shorter commute
Colman 30 minAurora 17 min
Typical home built36 yrs
Colman’s homes are older
Aurora 2010Colman 1974
Age 65++10.4 pts
Colman has more people 65 and up
Colman 15.9%Aurora 5.5%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $300 more a month in Colman

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.

Aurora$1,930/mo
Typical home $307K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.26% · or rent about $840/mo · Housing →
Colman$2,240/mo
Typical home $368K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.01% · or rent about $733/mo · Housing →

The difference: $300 a month, about $3,600 a year, between Colman and Aurora.

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 South Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
–AuroraNot graded CColmanBetter than 31% of districts in the state
Health
A−AuroraHealthier than 77% of U.S. towns –ColmanNot graded
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
AuroraColman
Snow a year36″43″
January low4°F—
July high81°F—
Growing season (days)145d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)40th37th
Outdoors & history
AuroraColman
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land0%—
Settled—1880
Community
AuroraColman
Library hours a week—10 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

22 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

AuroraColmanAuroraColman
Aurora ↔ Colman22 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.

AuroraColman
People
Population 1,444Highest 948Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +96.8%Highest SD: +8.9% +6.7%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 29±2.4Lowest 24% below SD 35.7±10Highest 6% below SD
Colman and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 27.1%±5.8Lowest SD: 24.2% 30.4%±4.9Highest SD: 24.2%
Colman and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 5.5%±1.8Lowest SD: 18% 15.9%±4.8Highest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 42.8%Highest SD: 31.9% 38%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 12.6%±10.1Highest SD: 5% 8.1%±4.3Lowest SD: 5%
Aurora and Colman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $95,952±$9kHighest 28% above SD $76,146±$22kLowest about the SD average
Aurora and Colman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $234,600±$17kLowest 9% below SD $235,800±$35kHighest 8% below SD
Colman and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $840±$192Highest 11% below SD $733±$110Lowest 23% below SD
Aurora and Colman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,951Highest 8% above SD $2,379Lowest 13% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 30.7%±19.9Lowest SD: 39.8% 38.5%±18.5Highest SD: 39.8%
Colman and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 2.7%Lowest SD: 11.9% 11.5%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 75%Lowest SD: 68.6% 77.9%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2010Highest 30 yrs newer than SD 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 17 minLowest 7% below SD 30 minHighest 70% above SD
Work from home 11.4%±5.3Lowest SD: 9.7% 14.4%±8.2Highest SD: 9.7%
Colman and Aurora are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.1%Lowest 10.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 5.8 miLowest 23.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.16Lowest 1.22Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Brookings (55%)Sioux Falls (27%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColmanFew work in Aurora
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 63.8Highest 26.2Lowest
Schools
School district —Colman-Egan School District 50-5
High school in town —Colman-Egan High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school — 14.5
South Dakota 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.

Aurora neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Aurora’s Town Square.

Colman neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colman’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Aurora and Colman

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Aurora

A
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Aurora Township134 people · $285K homes
T
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Trenton Township249 people

Towns like Aurora

G
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Groton1,691 people · $191K homes
M
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Medary Township1,452 people · $312K homes
+ Compare
Hill City834 people · $286K homes
S
+ Compare
Summerset3,022 people · $368K homes

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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