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Chester Township vs Independence Township

Next-door neighbors in Douglas County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.2× in Chester Township) and average commute (23 min in Independence Township).

C ×
Chester Township, SDAn outdoors townDouglas County · 145 people
I ×
Independence Township, SDA small town of 70Douglas County · 70 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 TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors19.3% conserved land4.6 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Chester Township →
Independence TownshipA small town of 70
Quiet strengthsIndependence Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Independence Township →
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.

Jobs per worker7.2×
Chester Township is more of a job hub
Chester Township 2.38Independence Township 0.33
Average commute23 min
Independence Township has the shorter commute
Chester Township 48 minIndependence Township 25 min
Homeowners+35 pts renters
Independence Township has more renters
Chester Township 92.9%Independence Township 57.9%
Household income+41%
Households in Chester Township earn more
Chester Township $181,719Independence Township $128,594
Conserved land+12.7 pts
Chester Township has more conserved land
Chester Township 19.3%Independence Township 6.6%
Size2.1×
Chester Township is the bigger place
Chester Township 145Independence Township 70
★ What stands out · Where they are

Chester Township and Independence Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Chester TownshipIndependence TownshipChester TownshipIndependence Township
Chester Township ↔ Independence Township7.3 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
Chester TownshipIndependence Township
Snow a year34″34″
January low10°F10°F
July high88°F88°F
Growing season (days)157d157d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)35th35th
Outdoors & history
Chester TownshipIndependence Township
Trails5 mi5 mi
Conserved land19.3%6.6%
Community
Chester TownshipIndependence 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.

Chester TownshipIndependence Township
People
Population 145Highest 70Lowest
Median age 45.5±41.5Lowest 20% above SD 49.2±14.9Highest 29% above SD
Independence Township and Chester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.3%±14.4Highest SD: 24.2% 22.9%±24.5Lowest SD: 24.2%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 42.8%±20.1Highest SD: 18% 4.3%±45.6Lowest SD: 18%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 27.7%Lowest SD: 31.9% 32.6%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 8.3%±9.6Highest SD: 5% 4.3%±17.2Lowest SD: 5%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $181,719±$38kHighest 142% above SD $128,594±$12kLowest 71% above SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied — $383,300±$175k 49% above SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent — 0%±100 SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line 0% SD: 11.9% 0% SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 92.9%Highest SD: 68.6% 57.9%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than SD 1946Highest 34 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 48 minHighest 171% above SD 25 minLowest 41% above SD
Work from home 14.3%±17.5Highest SD: 9.7% 6.7%±7.3Lowest SD: 9.7%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 6.9%Highest 0%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.3 miLowest 29.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.38Highest 0.33Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Corsica (21%)Corsica (14%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Independence Township7% work in Chester Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 19.3%Highest 6.6%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 4.6 miLowest 5.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.0 1.0
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.

Chester Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Chester Township’s Town Square.

Independence Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Independence Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Chester Township

H
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Howard Township208 people · $250K homes
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Iowa Township117 people · $347K homes
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Moore Township91 people · $111K homes
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Armour675 people · $106K homes

Towns like Chester Township

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Badger Township161 people · $172K homes
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East Rondell Township146 people · $247K homes
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Hidewood Township88 people · $220K homes
R
+ Compare
Ramsey Township111 people · $358K 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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