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Chester Township vs Lien Township

131 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+58% in Lien Township) and average commute (8 min in Chester Township).

C ×
Chester Township, MNA small town of 107Polk County · 107 people
L ×
Lien Township, MNA small town of 85Grant County · 85 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.

Chester TownshipA small town of 107
Quiet strengthsChester Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Chester Township →
Lien TownshipA small town of 85
Quiet strengthsLien Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Lien 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 bill+58%
Tax bills are bigger in Lien Township
Lien Township $1,875Chester Township $1,188
Average commute8 min
Chester Township has the shorter commute
Lien Township 26 minChester Township 18 min
Street grid+60%
Lien Township has the more walkable street grid
Lien Township 0.8Chester Township 0.5
Typical home built17 yrs
Lien Township’s homes are older
Chester Township 1983Lien Township 1966
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $220 more a month in Lien 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.

Chester Township$1,030/mo
Typical home $178K (Census) · tax rate 0.67% · Housing →
Lien Township$1,250/mo
Typical home $208K (Census) · tax rate 0.90% · Housing →

The difference: $220 a month, about $2,600 a year, between Lien Township and Chester 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.

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
Chester TownshipLien Township
Snow a year50″45″
January low-3°F1°F
July high79°F81°F
Growing season (days)142d150d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)32nd46th
Outdoors & history
Chester TownshipLien Township
Trails5 mi6 mi
Conserved land0.1%7.1%
Settled—1874
Community
Chester TownshipLien 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.

Where they are

131 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Chester TownshipPolk CountyLien TownshipGrant County
Chester Township ↔ Lien Township131 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.

Chester TownshipLien Township
People
Population 107Highest 85Lowest
Median age 38.2±16.1Highest about the MN average 36.3±11.5Lowest 6% below MN
Chester Township and Lien Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.5%±15.1Lowest MN: 22.9% 34.1%±6.9Highest MN: 22.9%
Lien Township and Chester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21.5%±26.9Highest MN: 17.3% 10.6%±27.1Lowest MN: 17.3%
Chester Township and Lien Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12%Highest MN: 39.4% 10%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0%±13.2Lowest MN: 5.8% 4.7%±12.5Highest MN: 5.8%
Lien Township and Chester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $131,250±$85kHighest 47% above MN $103,750±$78kLowest 16% above MN
Chester Township and Lien Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $178,100±$54kLowest 46% below MN $208,300±$109kHighest 37% below MN
Lien Township and Chester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,188Lowest 65% below MN $1,875Highest 44% below MN
Below poverty line 2.8%Highest MN: 9.3% 0%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 100% MN: 72.2% 100% MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than MN 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 19% below MN 26 minHighest 16% above MN
Work from home 6.9%±8Lowest MN: 17.6% 8.7%±7.8Highest MN: 17.6%
Lien Township and Chester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.6%Highest 0%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.8 miHighest 20.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.31Highest 0.21Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Fosston (23%)Barrett (15%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Lien TownshipFew work in Chester Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 7.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 4.7 miLowest 6.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 0.5Lowest 0.8Highest
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.

Chester Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Chester Township’s Town Square.

Lien Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lien Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Chester Township

H
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Hill River Township140 people · $196K homes
L
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Lambert Township94 people · $197K homes
G
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Gully Township66 people · $308K homes
E
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Equality Township126 people · $265K homes

Towns like Chester Township

G
+ Compare
Grasston112 people · $163K homes
L
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Lake Ida Township133 people · $191K homes
+ Compare
Clontarf Township158 people · $213K homes
B
+ Compare
Beseman Township141 people · $245K 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.

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