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Buffalo Township vs Maple Lake Township

Next-door neighbors in Wright County. The biggest differences: seasonal homes (+16.9 pts in Maple Lake Township) and rent (+20% in Buffalo Township).

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Buffalo Township, MNOne of the healthiest townsWright County · 1,808 people

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Maple Lake Township, MNOne of the healthiest townsWright County · 2,490 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.

Buffalo TownshipOne of the healthiest towns

HealthHealthier than 77%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Buffalo Township →

Maple Lake TownshipOne of the healthiest towns

HealthHealthier than 75%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates

HistorySettled in 18587 archive photos, postcards and papers All about Maple Lake Township →

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.

Seasonal homes+16.9 pts

Maple Lake Township has more second homes

Maple Lake Township 18.5%Buffalo Township 1.6%

Rent runs higher in Buffalo Township

Buffalo Township $1,375Maple Lake Township $1,143

Homeowners+10.7 pts renters

Maple Lake Township has more renters

Buffalo Township 95.3%Maple Lake Township 84.6%

Average commute4 min

Maple Lake Township has the shorter commute

Buffalo Township 30 minMaple Lake Township 26 min

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Maple Lake 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.

Down paymentRate%

Buffalo Township$2,590/mo

Typical home $431K (Census) · tax rate 0.90% · or rent about $1,375/mo · Housing →

Maple Lake Township$2,770/mo

Typical home $470K (Census) · tax rate 0.79% · or rent about $1,143/mo · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,200 a year, between Maple Lake Township and Buffalo 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

Buffalo Township and Maple Lake Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Buffalo TownshipMaple Lake Township

Buffalo Township ↔ Maple Lake Township7.6 miles apart · They share a border · Same county

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.

Health

A−Buffalo TownshipHealthier than 77% of U.S. towns B+Maple Lake TownshipHealthier 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

Buffalo TownshipMaple Lake Township

Snow a year40″40″

January low3°F 3°F

July high81°F 81°F

Growing season (days)163d 163d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)24th 36th

Outdoors & history

Buffalo TownshipMaple Lake Township

Trails0 mi 9 mi

Conserved land3.5%2.6%

Settled1858 1858

Archive photos—7

Famous people born here—4

Community

Buffalo TownshipMaple Lake Township

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.

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 Minnesota average

Buffalo TownshipMaple Lake Township

People

Population 1,808Lowest 2,490Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.4%Lowest MN: +7.6% +4.7%Highest MN: +7.6%

Median age 43.6±6.4Highest 12% above MN 42.6±4.4Lowest 10% above MN

Buffalo Township and Maple Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 26.6%±3.8Highest MN: 22.9% 24.7%±4.6Lowest MN: 22.9%

Buffalo Township and Maple Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 20.1%±3.8Highest MN: 17.3% 17%±4.1Lowest MN: 17.3%

Buffalo Township and Maple Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 35.7%Highest MN: 39.4% 30.6%Lowest MN: 39.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.4%±1.3Highest MN: 5.8% 2.1%±0.9Lowest MN: 5.8%

Buffalo Township and Maple Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $118,194±$20kHighest 33% above MN $103,864±$26kLowest 17% above MN

Buffalo Township and Maple Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $431,400±$39kLowest 31% above MN $469,600±$35kHighest 43% above MN

Maple Lake Township and Buffalo Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,375±$149Highest 7% above MN $1,143±$63Lowest 11% below MN

Property taxmedian, yearly $3,893Highest 16% above MN $3,725Lowest 11% above MN

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 33.3%±51.2Highest MN: 48.1% 8.9%±16.6Lowest MN: 48.1%

Buffalo Township and Maple Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 5.4%Lowest MN: 9.3% 7.3%Highest MN: 9.3%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 95.3%Highest MN: 72.2% 84.6%Lowest MN: 72.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than MN 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than MN

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 30 minHighest 32% above MN 26 minLowest 13% above MN

Work from home 11.1%±3.3Lowest MN: 17.6% 13.4%±5.9Highest MN: 17.6%

Maple Lake Township and Buffalo Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 1.8%Highest 0.6%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.8 miHighest 18.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.34Highest 0.26Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Buffalo (22%)Buffalo (15%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Maple Lake TownshipFew work in Buffalo Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 3.5%Highest 2.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 9.4 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.3 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2 2

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.7Highest 3.6Lowest

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.

Buffalo Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Buffalo Township’s Town Square.

Maple Lake Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Maple Lake Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Buffalo Township

Buffalo16,499 people · $314K homes

Monticello Township3,328 people · $371K homes

Rockford Township3,407 people · $405K homes

St. Michael20,010 people · $390K homes

Towns like Buffalo Township

Ida Township1,539 people · $420K homes

Clear Lake Township1,521 people · $420K homes

Lake View Township1,939 people · $392K homes

Little Falls Township1,825 people · $301K 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.