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Bertha vs Balaton

146 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (5× in Bertha) and rent (+25% in Balaton).

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Bertha, MNKnown for its schoolsMinnesota · 474 people
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Balaton, MNHomes around $105KMinnesota · 551 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.

BerthaKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 77%of MN districts Housing$233K typical home33% below the MN typical home All about Bertha →
BalatonHomes around $105K
Housing$105K typical home70% below the MN typical home All about Balaton →
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.

Trails5×
Bertha has more miles of trail
Bertha 1.0 miBalaton 0.2 mi
Rent+25%
Rent runs higher in Balaton
Balaton $1,138Bertha $913
Jobs per worker+88%
Bertha is more of a job hub
Bertha 0.77Balaton 0.41
Street grid+51%
Balaton has the more walkable street grid
Balaton 47.5Bertha 31.4
Average commute4 min
Bertha has the shorter commute
Balaton 28 minBertha 23 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $830 more a month in Bertha

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.

Bertha$1,500/mo
Typical home $233K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.42% · or rent about $913/mo · Housing →
Balaton$670/mo
Typical home $105K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.36% · or rent about $1,138/mo · Housing →

The difference: $830 a month, about $10,000 a year, between Bertha and Balaton.

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
A−BerthaBetter than 77% of districts in the state –BalatonNot 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
BerthaBalaton
Snow a year51″49″
January low-2°F5°F
July high78°F82°F
Growing season (days)141d156d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)26th60th
Outdoors & history
BerthaBalaton
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%5.5%
Community
BerthaBalaton
Library hours a week—19 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

146 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BerthaMNBalatonMN
Bertha ↔ Balaton146 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.

BerthaBalaton
People
Population 474Lowest 551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census — -7.5% MN: +7.6%
Median age 45.3±5.9Lowest 17% above MN 48.6±13.1Highest 25% above MN
Balaton and Bertha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.7%±4.3Lowest MN: 22.9% 23%±3.4Highest MN: 22.9%
Balaton and Bertha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16%±4.6Lowest MN: 17.3% 24.9%±7Highest MN: 17.3%
Balaton and Bertha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 9.8%Lowest MN: 39.4% 15.4%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3%±2.6Highest MN: 5.8% 1.8%±1.2Lowest MN: 5.8%
Bertha and Balaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $57,708±$9kHighest 35% below MN $54,688±$6kLowest 39% below MN
Bertha and Balaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $94,400±$12kHighest 71% below MN $94,000±$23kLowest 71% below MN
Bertha and Balaton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $913±$83Lowest 29% below MN $1,138±$96Highest 11% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,345Highest 60% below MN $1,281Lowest 62% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 37%±30.9Lowest MN: 48.1% 51.1%±26.4Highest MN: 48.1%
Balaton and Bertha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13%Lowest MN: 9.3% 17.7%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 73.7%Lowest MN: 72.2% 74.9%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Highest 21 yrs older than MN 1951Lowest 28 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest 3% above MN 28 minHighest 21% above MN
Work from home 8.4%±5.9Lowest MN: 17.6% 11.3%±5Highest MN: 17.6%
Balaton and Bertha are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.6%Highest 2.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.3 miHighest 15.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.77Highest 0.41Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Wadena (17%)Marshall (42%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BalatonFew work in Bertha
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 5.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.0 miHighest 0.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.9 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 31.4Lowest 47.5Highest
Schools
School district Freshwater Education District · BERTHA-HEWITT PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST.—
High school in town Bertha Secondary—
Students per teacherat that high school 13.4 —
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.

Bertha neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bertha’s Town Square.

Balaton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Balaton’s Town Square.

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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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