Compare towns

Beresford vs Elk Point

28 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+50% in Elk Point) and typical home built (18 yrs in Beresford).

Beresford, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 2,360 people

Elk Point, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 2,537 people

Swap order

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.

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 →

Elk PointOne of the healthiest towns

HealthHealthier than 78%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Housing$290K typical home10% below the SD typical home SafetySafer than 80%of U.S. towns we grade All about Elk Point →

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.

Property tax bill+50%

Tax bills are bigger in Elk Point

Elk Point $3,470Beresford $2,313

Typical home built18 yrs

Beresford’s homes are older

Elk Point 1991Beresford 1973

★ What stands out · 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

B−BeresfordSafer than 54% of U.S. towns A−Elk PointSafer than 80% of U.S. towns

Schools

B−BeresfordBetter than 51% of districts in the state BElk PointBetter than 55% of districts in the state

Health

A−BeresfordHealthier than 75% of U.S. towns A−Elk PointHealthier than 78% of U.S. towns

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.

Down paymentRate%

Beresford$1,990/mo

Typical home $328K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $914/mo · Housing →

Elk Point$1,860/mo

Typical home $290K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.40% · Housing →

The difference: $130 a month, about $1,600 a year, between Beresford and Elk Point.

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.

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

BeresfordElk Point

Snow a year31″36″

January low7°F —

July high84°F —

Growing season (days)151d —

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)41st 45th

Outdoors & history

BeresfordElk Point

Trails3 mi —

Conserved land0%—

Settled1884 1873

National Register places4 1

Archive photos—6

Community

BeresfordElk Point

Library hours a week43 hrs 32 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

28 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BeresfordElk Point

Beresford ↔ Elk Point28 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.

Only big differences vs South Dakota average

BeresfordElk Point

People

Population 2,360Lowest 2,537Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +8.7%Lowest SD: +8.9% +9.5%Highest SD: +8.9%

Median age 35.5±6.4 7% below SD 35.5±5.4 7% below SD

Kids under 18 30.4%±3.9Highest SD: 24.2% 29.5%±4.7Lowest SD: 24.2%

Beresford and Elk Point are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 18.6%±2.8Highest SD: 18% 17.7%±4.6Lowest SD: 18%

Beresford and Elk Point are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 28%Lowest SD: 31.9% 29.4%Highest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.4%±1.5 SD: 5% 2.4%±1.7 SD: 5%

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $78,793±$9kLowest 5% above SD $90,473±$12kHighest 21% above SD

Elk Point and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $234,400±$22kLowest 9% below SD $248,500±$20kHighest 3% below SD

Elk Point and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $914±$206 3% below SD —

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,313Lowest 15% below SD $3,470Highest 27% above SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 19.6%±12Lowest SD: 39.8% 61.2%±35.3Highest SD: 39.8%

Elk Point and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 5.2%Lowest SD: 11.9% 8.5%Highest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 80.4%Highest SD: 68.6% 78.4%Lowest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than SD 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 22 minHighest 22% above SD 21 minLowest 17% above SD

Work from home 3.8%±2Lowest SD: 9.7% 7.9%±3.7Highest SD: 9.7%

Elk Point and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 15.2%Lowest 22.3%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.8 miHighest 15.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.91Highest 0.80Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (27%)Sioux Falls (13%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Elk PointFew work in Beresford

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 2.9 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.6 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 90.1Highest 68.3Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#23 of 34 in SD

School district Beresford School District 61-2Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7

High school in town Beresford High School - 01Elk Point-Jefferson High School - 01

Students per teacherat that high school 14.8Highest 13.7Lowest

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.

Beresford neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Beresford’s Town Square.

Elk Point neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elk Point’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Beresford and Elk Point

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

Bordering Beresford

+ Compare

Pleasant Township428 people · $263K homes

+ Compare

Prairie Township155 people · $336K homes

Towns like Beresford

+ Compare

Lennox2,468 people · $236K homes

+ Compare

Parkston1,874 people · $157K homes

+ Compare

Groton1,691 people · $191K homes

+ Compare

Hartford3,478 people · $258K 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.

Beresford vs Elk Point

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

Grades and rankings, side by side

A typical home costs about the same each month

What daily life feels like in each

28 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Beresford and Elk Point

Bordering Beresford

Towns like Beresford

Post to Beresford

Check your email