Compare towns
Crystal Lake Township vs Dakota Township 188 miles apart. The biggest differences: work from home (+38.2 pts in Crystal Lake Township) and conserved land (+43.9 pts in Crystal Lake Township).
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.
Dakota Township A small town of 51
Quiet strengths Dakota Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Dakota 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.
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
Outdoors & history
Community
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 188 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Crystal Lake Township ↔ Dakota Township 188 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.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Population
43 Lowest 51 Highest
Median age
59.6 ±4.8 Highest 57% above SD 57.3 ±43.3 Lowest 51% above SD
Kids under 18
0% ±65.8 SD: 24.2% 0% ±55.5 SD: 24.2%
Age 65+
20.9% ±82 Highest SD: 18% 7.8% ±61.4 Lowest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
0% SD: 31.9% 0% SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±32.9 SD: 5% 0% ±27.7 SD: 5%
Household incomemedian
$86,389 ±$7k 15% above SD —
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$416,700 ±$237k 62% above SD —
Below poverty line
0% SD: 11.9% 0% SD: 11.9%
Homeownersof occupied homes
100% SD: 68.6% 100% SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938 Lowest 42 yrs older than SD 2003 Highest 23 yrs newer than SD
Work from home
100% Highest SD: 9.7% 61.8% ±71.9 Lowest SD: 9.7%
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
34.8 mi Lowest 58.8 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.00 Lowest 0.23 Highest
Top workplaceoutside town
Belford Township (25%) Rapid City (38%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Dakota Township Few work in Crystal Lake Township
Conserved landshare of the town
57.8% Highest 13.9% Lowest
Trailsmapped miles
1.0 mi Highest 0.0 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
0.7 Highest 0.0 Lowest
“±” Census margin of error ACS 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.
Crystal Lake Township or Dakota Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Crystal Lake Township? → Moving to Crystal Lake Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Crystal Lake Township’s Town Square.
Dakota Township or Crystal Lake Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Dakota Township? → Moving to Dakota Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Dakota Township’s Town Square.
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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