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Burke vs Menno

86 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+5.8 pts in Menno) and work in town (+9.5 pts in Burke).

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Burke, SDA regional job hubSouth Dakota · 708 people

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Menno, SDA regional job hubSouth Dakota · 653 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.

BurkeA regional job hub

Work390 jobsbased in Burke, a regional job hub All about Burke →

MennoA regional job hub

Work344 jobsbased in Menno, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 18%of SD districts HistorySettled in 18794 places on the National Register All about Menno →

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.

Growth since 2010+5.8 pts

Menno has grown faster since 2010

Menno +1%Burke -4.8%

Work in town+9.5 pts

More of Burke’s workers stay in town

Burke 26.2%Menno 16.7%

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Burke

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%

Burke$900/mo

Typical home $150K (Census) · tax rate 0.91% · or rent about $525/mo · Housing →

Menno$710/mo

Typical home $112K (Census) · tax rate 1.36% · or rent about $396/mo · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Burke and Menno.

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 South Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

BBurkeBetter than 60% of districts in the state C−MennoBetter than 18% of districts in the state

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

BurkeMenno

Snow a year45″39″

January low10°F 10°F

July high87°F 86°F

Growing season (days)149d 156d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)43rd 50th

Outdoors & history

BurkeMenno

Settled1904 1879

National Register places1 4

Archive photos1 —

Famous people born here5 —

Community

BurkeMenno

Library hours a week20 hrs 44 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

86 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BurkeSD MennoSD

Burke ↔ Menno86 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

BurkeMenno

People

Population 708Highest 653Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.8%Lowest SD: +8.9% +1%Highest SD: +8.9%

Median age 43.7±5.4Lowest 15% above SD 47.2±8.2Highest 24% above SD

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

Kids under 18 23.3%±4.5Highest SD: 24.2% 22.5%±3.7Lowest SD: 24.2%

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

Age 65+ 24.4%±2.6Lowest SD: 18% 31.5%±6.9Highest SD: 18%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.1%Highest SD: 31.9% 20.5%Lowest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.4%±3.9Highest SD: 5% 2%±2.4Lowest SD: 5%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $52,500±$13kLowest 30% below SD $65,833±$22kHighest 12% below SD

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $150,000±$31kHighest 42% below SD $111,500±$24kLowest 57% below SD

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $525±$120Highest 45% below SD $396±$331Lowest 58% below SD

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,369Lowest 50% below SD $1,520Highest 44% below SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 13.8%±18.4Highest SD: 39.8% 13.6%±23.7Lowest SD: 39.8%

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

Below poverty line 8.1%Lowest SD: 11.9% 9%Highest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 71.8%Lowest SD: 68.6% 74%Highest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1966Highest 14 yrs older than SD 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 12 minLowest 34% below SD 15 minHighest 16% below SD

Work from home 3.3%±2.4Lowest SD: 9.7% 10.5%±11.2Highest SD: 9.7%

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

Work in townworking residents 26.2%Highest 16.7%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.8 miLowest 20.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.50Lowest 1.52Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Gregory (10%)Freeman (24%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in MennoFew work in Burke

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 118Lowest 128Highest

Schools

School district South Central School District 26-5 · Burke School District 26-2Menno School District 33-2

High school in town Burke High School - 01Menno High School - 01

Students per teacherat that high school 12.2Highest 9.7Lowest

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.

Burke neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Burke’s Town Square.

Menno neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Menno’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Burke

Alcester989 people · $126K homes

Big Stone City706 people · $151K homes

Arlington920 people · $144K homes

Corsica699 people · $163K 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.