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Center Township vs Washington Township

Next-door neighbors in Aurora County. The biggest differences: property tax bill (4.5× in Washington Township) and trails (6.8× in Center Township).

C ×
Center Township, SDAn outdoors townAurora County · 40 people
W ×
Washington Township, SDAn outdoors townAurora County · 52 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.

Center TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors25.9% conserved land8.8 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Center Township →
Washington TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors38.6% conserved land1.3 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Washington 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.

Property tax bill4.5×
Tax bills are bigger in Washington Township
Washington Township $1,393Center Township $313
Trails6.8×
Center Township has more miles of trail
Center Township 8.8 miWashington Township 1.3 mi
Conserved land+12.7 pts
Washington Township has more conserved land
Washington Township 38.6%Center Township 25.9%
Homeowners+9.3 pts renters
Center Township has more renters
Washington Township 95%Center Township 85.7%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,080 more a month in Washington 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.

Center Township$180/mo
Typical home $30K (Census) · tax rate 1.04% · Housing →
Washington Township$1,260/mo
Typical home $219K (Census) · tax rate 0.64% · Housing →

The difference: $1,080 a month, about $13,000 a year, between Washington Township and Center 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

Center Township and Washington Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Center TownshipWashington TownshipCenter TownshipWashington Township
Center Township ↔ Washington Township6.0 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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
Center TownshipWashington Township
Snow a year38″46″
January low8°F—
July high86°F—
Growing season (days)153d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)48th48th
Outdoors & history
Center TownshipWashington Township
Trails9 mi1 mi
Conserved land25.9%38.6%
Archive photos1—
Community
Center TownshipWashington 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.

Center TownshipWashington Township
People
Population 40Lowest 52Highest
Median age 59.9±4Highest 58% above SD 43.5±26.4Lowest 14% above SD
Center Township and Washington Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 0%±70.7Lowest SD: 24.2% 34.6%±28.9Highest SD: 24.2%
Washington Township and Center Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.5%±80Lowest SD: 18% 28.8%±52.1Highest SD: 18%
Washington Township and Center Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.6%Lowest SD: 31.9% 20%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0%±35.4 SD: 5% 0%±27.2 SD: 5%
Cost of living
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $30,000±$11kLowest 88% below SD $218,800±$190kHighest 15% below SD
Washington Township and Center Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $313Lowest 89% below SD $1,393Highest 49% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100Lowest SD: 39.8% 100%±100Highest SD: 39.8%
Washington Township and Center Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 0% SD: 11.9% 0% SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 85.7%Lowest SD: 68.6% 95%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1938 42 yrs older than SD 1938 42 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Work from home 15.2%±15.4Lowest SD: 9.7% 36%±24.9Highest SD: 9.7%
Washington Township and Center Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 29.8 miHighest 16.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.07 0.07
Top workplaceoutside town Mitchell (18%)White Lake (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Washington TownshipFew work in Center Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 25.9%Lowest 38.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 8.8 miHighest 1.3 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 0.8Highest 0.6Lowest
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.

Center Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Center Township’s Town Square.

Washington Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Washington Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Center Township

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Truro Township68 people
C
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Crystal Lake Township43 people · $417K homes

Towns like Center Township

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Lyon Township58 people
G
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Grenville53 people · $41K homes
+ Compare
Scenic Township53 people
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Watauga Township29 people

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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