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Compton Township vs Leaf River Township

9 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (2× in Leaf River Township) and work from home (+11.6 pts in Compton Township).

C ×
Compton Township, MNA small town of 804Otter Tail County · 804 people
×
Leaf River Township, MNA small town of 804Wadena County · 804 people
Swap order
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.

Compton TownshipA small town of 804
Quiet strengthsCompton Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Compton Township →
Leaf River TownshipA small town of 804
Quiet strengthsLeaf River Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Leaf River 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.

Rent2×
Rent runs higher in Leaf River Township
Leaf River Township $1,335Compton Township $665
Work from home+11.6 pts
More people work from home in Compton Township
Compton Township 14.5%Leaf River Township 2.9%
Growth since 2010+10.5 pts
Compton Township has grown faster since 2010
Compton Township -0.4%Leaf River Township -10.9%
Property tax bill+36%
Tax bills are bigger in Leaf River Township
Leaf River Township $2,556Compton Township $1,875
Kids under 18+9.3 pts
Compton Township has more kids
Compton Township 29.2%Leaf River Township 19.9%
Jobs per worker+74%
Compton Township is more of a job hub
Compton Township 0.40Leaf River Township 0.23
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Compton Township$1,280/mo
Typical home $215K (Census) · tax rate 0.87% · or rent about $665/mo · Housing →
Leaf River Township$1,370/mo
Typical home $221K (Census) · tax rate 1.16% · or rent about $1,335/mo · Housing →

The difference: $90 a month, about $1,100 a year, between Leaf River Township and Compton 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.

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.

Schools
C+Compton TownshipBetter than 42% of districts in the state –Leaf River TownshipNot graded
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
Compton TownshipLeaf River Township
Snow a year51″51″
January low-2°F-2°F
July high78°F78°F
Growing season (days)141d141d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)24th44th
Outdoors & history
Compton TownshipLeaf River Township
Trails3 mi4 mi
Conserved land0.1%0.4%
Settled1875—
Community
Compton TownshipLeaf River 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

9 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Compton TownshipLeaf River TownshipCompton TownshipLeaf River Township
Compton Township ↔ Leaf River Township8.8 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.

Compton TownshipLeaf River Township
People
Population 804 804
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.4%Highest MN: +7.6% -10.9%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 39.8±4.8Highest about the MN average 39.2±3.4Lowest about the MN average
Compton Township and Leaf River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.2%±3.5Highest MN: 22.9% 19.9%±4.3Lowest MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 20.6%±3.1Highest MN: 17.3% 14.3%±1.2Lowest MN: 17.3%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 18%Highest MN: 39.4% 13.5%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.9%±1.4Lowest MN: 5.8% 4.4%±5.2Highest MN: 5.8%
Leaf River Township and Compton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $74,196±$6kLowest 17% below MN $86,161±$9kHighest 3% below MN
Leaf River Township and Compton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $214,500±$26kLowest 35% below MN $220,800±$46kHighest 33% below MN
Leaf River Township and Compton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $665±$292Lowest 48% below MN $1,335±$133Highest 4% above MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,875Lowest 44% below MN $2,556Highest 24% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 17%±32.4Highest MN: 48.1% 5.4%±20.4Lowest MN: 48.1%
Compton Township and Leaf River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 3.6%Lowest MN: 9.3% 10.9%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 79.8%Highest MN: 72.2% 77.6%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1980Highest 1 yr newer than MN 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minHighest 32% above MN 27 minLowest 19% above MN
Work from home 14.5%±7.5Highest MN: 17.6% 2.9%±3Lowest MN: 17.6%
Work in townworking residents 0.3%Lowest 1.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 22.8 miHighest 18.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.40Highest 0.23Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Perham (15%)Wadena (25%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Leaf River TownshipFew work in Compton Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 0.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 3.3 miLowest 3.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.6Highest 1.1Lowest
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.

Compton Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Compton Township’s Town Square.

Leaf River Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Leaf River Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Compton Township and Leaf River Township

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Compton Township

+ Compare
Wadena4,419 people · $161K homes
+ Compare
Deer Creek Township487 people · $287K homes
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Oak Valley Township323 people · $204K homes
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Wadena Township1,023 people · $180K homes

Towns like Compton Township

+ Compare
Mazeppa1,004 people · $243K homes
M
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Minnesota Lake687 people · $158K homes
+ Compare
Henderson875 people · $224K homes
R
+ Compare
Randall695 people · $177K 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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