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Benton Township vs Le Ray Township

42 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (4.2× in Benton Township) and property tax bill (+46% in Le Ray Township).

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Benton Township, MNKnown for its schoolsCarver County · 713 people
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Le Ray Township, MNA small town of 780Blue Earth County · 780 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.

Benton TownshipKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 72%of MN districts All about Benton Township →
Le Ray TownshipA small town of 780
Quiet strengthsLe Ray Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Le Ray Township →
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.

Jobs per worker4.2×
Benton Township is more of a job hub
Benton Township 1.01Le Ray Township 0.24
Property tax bill+46%
Tax bills are bigger in Le Ray Township
Le Ray Township $4,384Benton Township $3,009
Kids under 18+9.5 pts
Le Ray Township has more kids
Le Ray Township 21.3%Benton Township 11.8%
Average commute7 min
Benton Township has the shorter commute
Le Ray Township 29 minBenton Township 22 min
Typical home built21 yrs
Benton Township’s homes are older
Le Ray Township 1983Benton Township 1962
Growth since 2010+6.1 pts
Le Ray Township has grown faster since 2010
Le Ray Township +1.9%Benton Township -4.2%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Benton Township$2,460/mo
Typical home $422K (Census) · tax rate 0.71% · Housing →
Le Ray Township$2,430/mo
Typical home $394K (Census) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $734/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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.

Schools
B+Benton TownshipBetter than 72% of districts in the state –Le Ray TownshipNot 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
Benton TownshipLe Ray Township
Snow a year52″39″
January low4°F6°F
July high83°F82°F
Growing season (days)151d161d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)32nd38th
Outdoors & history
Benton TownshipLe Ray Township
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land0.7%1.2%
National Register places2—
Archive photos6—
Community
Benton TownshipLe Ray Township
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

42 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Benton TownshipCarver CountyLe Ray TownshipBlue Earth County
Benton Township ↔ Le Ray Township42 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.

Benton TownshipLe Ray Township
People
Population 713Lowest 780Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.2%Lowest MN: +7.6% +1.9%Highest MN: +7.6%
Median age 53.3±4.4Highest 37% above MN 53±16.3Lowest 37% above MN
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 11.8%±3.1Lowest MN: 22.9% 21.3%±5Highest MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 26.2%±4.2Lowest MN: 17.3% 30.8%±7.6Highest MN: 17.3%
Le Ray Township and Benton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24.7%Lowest MN: 39.4% 26.5%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.7%±2.5Highest MN: 5.8% 1.4%±1.8Lowest MN: 5.8%
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $98,281±$11kHighest 10% above MN $91,250±$13kLowest about the MN average
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $421,900±$48kHighest 28% above MN $394,100±$44kLowest 20% above MN
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $734±$374 43% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,009Lowest 10% below MN $4,384Highest 31% above MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 50%±100Highest MN: 48.1% 18.2%±100Lowest MN: 48.1%
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 1.1%Lowest MN: 9.3% 7.8%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 96.2%Highest MN: 72.2% 94.9%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1962Lowest 17 yrs older than MN 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minLowest about the MN average 29 minHighest 29% above MN
Work from home 9.6%±4.6Highest MN: 17.6% 8.7%±5.3Lowest MN: 17.6%
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.2%Highest 0.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.3 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.01Highest 0.24Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Waconia (10%)Mankato (38%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Le Ray TownshipFew work in Benton Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Lowest 1.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 1.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.6Lowest 2.5Highest
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.

Benton Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Benton Township’s Town Square.

Le Ray Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Le Ray Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Benton Township

D
+ Compare
Dahlgren Township1,026 people · $480K homes
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Waconia Township1,168 people · $623K homes
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Young America Township629 people · $464K homes
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Hancock Township323 people · $574K homes

Towns like Benton Township

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Ponto Lake Township721 people · $360K homes
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Elysian Township739 people · $392K homes
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Milford Township760 people · $293K homes
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Douglas Township773 people · $460K homes
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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