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Compare towns

Baltic vs Beresford

47 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (14.5× in Beresford) and jobs per worker (3.8× in Beresford).

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Baltic, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 1,502 people
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Beresford, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 2,360 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.

BalticOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 72%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Housing$377K typical home17% above the SD typical home All about Baltic →
BeresfordOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 75%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates HistorySettled in 18844 places on the National Register All about Beresford →
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.

Trails14.5×
Beresford has more miles of trail
Beresford 2.9 miBaltic 0.2 mi
Jobs per worker3.8×
Beresford is more of a job hub
Beresford 0.91Baltic 0.24
Household income+37%
Households in Baltic earn more
Baltic $107,768Beresford $78,793
Property tax bill+35%
Tax bills are bigger in Baltic
Baltic $3,111Beresford $2,313
Age 65++10.4 pts
Beresford has more people 65 and up
Beresford 18.6%Baltic 8.2%
Typical home built24 yrs
Beresford’s homes are older
Baltic 1997Beresford 1973
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $370 more a month in Baltic

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.

Baltic$2,360/mo
Typical home $377K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.22% · or rent about $1,232/mo · Housing →
Beresford$1,990/mo
Typical home $328K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $914/mo · Housing →

The difference: $370 a month, about $4,400 a year, between Baltic and Beresford.

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.

Safety
–BalticNot graded B−BeresfordSafer than 54% of U.S. towns
Schools
BBalticBetter than 58% of districts in the state B−BeresfordBetter than 51% of districts in the state
Health
B+BalticHealthier than 72% of U.S. towns A−BeresfordHealthier than 75% 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
BalticBeresford
Snow a year40″31″
January low—7°F
July high—84°F
Growing season (days)—151d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)32nd41st
Outdoors & history
BalticBeresford
Trails0 mi3 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled—1884
National Register places—4
Community
BalticBeresford
Library hours a week13 hrs43 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

47 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BalticSDBeresfordSD
Baltic ↔ Beresford47 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.

BalticBeresford
People
Population 1,502Lowest 2,360Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +14.4%Highest SD: +8.9% +8.7%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 29.3±1.7Lowest 23% below SD 35.5±6.4Highest 7% below SD
Beresford and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 37.6%±3.6Highest SD: 24.2% 30.4%±3.9Lowest SD: 24.2%
Baltic and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 8.2%±1.8Lowest SD: 18% 18.6%±2.8Highest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.7%Lowest SD: 31.9% 28%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.6%±1.9Highest SD: 5% 2.4%±1.5Lowest SD: 5%
Baltic and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $107,768±$12kHighest 44% above SD $78,793±$9kLowest 5% above SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $254,200±$24kHighest about the SD average $234,400±$22kLowest 9% below SD
Baltic and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,232±$748Highest 30% above SD $914±$206Lowest 3% below SD
Baltic and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,111Highest 14% above SD $2,313Lowest 15% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 7.6%±19.8Lowest SD: 39.8% 19.6%±12Highest SD: 39.8%
Beresford and Baltic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 1.2%Lowest SD: 11.9% 5.2%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 81.1%Highest SD: 68.6% 80.4%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1997Highest 17 yrs newer than SD 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minHighest 25% above SD 22 minLowest 22% above SD
Work from home 7%±2.8Highest SD: 9.7% 3.8%±2Lowest SD: 9.7%
Baltic and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.9%Lowest 15.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.8 miLowest 27.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.24Lowest 0.91Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (55%)Sioux Falls (27%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BeresfordFew work in Baltic
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.2 miLowest 2.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miLowest 1.6 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 73.3Lowest 90.1Highest
Schools
School district Baltic School District 49-1Beresford School District 61-2
High school in town Baltic High School - 01Beresford High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school 14.1Lowest 14.8Highest
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.

Baltic neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Baltic’s Town Square.

Beresford neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Beresford’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Baltic

S
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Sverdrup Township861 people · $368K homes
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Dell Rapids Township704 people · $391K homes

Towns like Baltic

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Parker1,280 people · $231K homes
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Elk Point2,537 people · $249K homes
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Medary Township1,452 people · $312K homes
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Estelline831 people · $142K 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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