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Big Sioux Township vs Jefferson Township

Next-door neighbors in Union County. The biggest differences: street grid (11× in Big Sioux Township) and jobs per worker (7.7× in Big Sioux Township).

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Big Sioux Township, SDAn outdoors townUnion County · 4,917 people
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Jefferson Township, SDOne of the healthiest townsUnion County · 1,088 people
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.

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.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $710 more a month in Big Sioux Township

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.

Big Sioux Township$3,100/mo
Typical home $502K (Census) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $1,225/mo · Housing →
Jefferson Township$2,390/mo
Typical home $400K (Census) · tax rate 0.88% · Housing →

The difference: $710 a month, about $8,500 a year, between Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township.

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.

Where they are

Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

Big Sioux TownshipJefferson TownshipBig Sioux TownshipJefferson Township
Big Sioux Township ↔ Jefferson Township4.8 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Who commutes between them
40 Jefferson Township residents work in Big Sioux Township (9.1% of its workers)
Work & commute in Jefferson Township →
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.

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
Big Sioux TownshipJefferson Township
Snow a year36″36″
January low10°F10°F
July high85°F85°F
Growing season (days)159d159d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)86th82nd
Outdoors & history
Big Sioux TownshipJefferson Township
Trails22 mi5 mi
Conserved land18.8%0.7%
Archive photos—2
Famous people born here—2
Community
Big Sioux TownshipJefferson 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.

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.

Big Sioux TownshipJefferson Township
People
Population 4,917Highest 1,088Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +43.7%Highest SD: +8.9% +18.2%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 41.7±4Lowest 10% above SD 43.6±2.8Highest 15% above SD
Jefferson Township and Big Sioux Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.6%±5.4Lowest SD: 24.2% 30.6%±11.8Highest SD: 24.2%
Jefferson Township and Big Sioux Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.7%±4.3Highest SD: 18% 7.7%±6.9Lowest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 56.3%Highest SD: 31.9% 46.1%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.3%±1.5Highest SD: 5% 0%±1.3Lowest SD: 5%
Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $128,005±$21kLowest 70% above SD $196,442±$74kHighest 162% above SD
Jefferson Township and Big Sioux Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $502,200±$66kHighest 95% above SD $400,000±$72kLowest 55% above SD
Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,225±$89 29% above SD —
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,567Highest 104% above SD $3,522Lowest 29% above SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 38.8%±19.9 SD: 39.8% —
Below poverty line 3.2%Highest SD: 11.9% 2%Lowest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 73.8%Lowest SD: 68.6% 93.8%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2003Highest 23 yrs newer than SD 1980Lowest same as SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 12 minLowest 31% below SD 21 minHighest 17% above SD
Work from home 11.2%±7.4Highest SD: 9.7% 10.7%±10.6Lowest SD: 9.7%
Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 28.4%Highest 0.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 4.8 miLowest 9.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.85Highest 0.24Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town North Sioux City (17%)North Sioux City (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Jefferson Township9% work in Big Sioux Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 18.8%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 22.4 miHighest 5.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.9 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 16.5Highest 1.5Lowest
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.

Big Sioux Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Big Sioux Township’s Town Square.

Jefferson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jefferson Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township

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

Bordering Big Sioux Township

Towns like Big Sioux Township

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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