Compare towns

Crystal vs Harding

99 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+75% in Harding) and conserved land (+23 pts in Harding).

Crystal, WIAn outdoors townWashburn County · 277 people

Harding, WIAn outdoors townLincoln County · 301 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.

CrystalAn outdoors town

Outdoors15.3% conserved land11 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Crystal →

HardingAn outdoors town

Outdoors38.3% conserved land18 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Harding →

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+75%

Tax bills are bigger in Harding

Harding $3,457Crystal $1,971

Conserved land+23 pts

Harding has more conserved land

Harding 38.3%Crystal 15.3%

Street grid+67%

Crystal has the more walkable street grid

Crystal 1.0Harding 0.6

Trails+62%

Harding has more miles of trail

Harding 17.5 miCrystal 10.8 mi

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $350 more a month in Harding

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.

Down paymentRate%

Crystal$1,350/mo

Typical home $226K (Census) · tax rate 0.87% · Housing →

Harding$1,700/mo

Typical home $269K (Census) · tax rate 1.29% · or rent about $625/mo · Housing →

The difference: $350 a month, about $4,100 a year, between Harding and Crystal.

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

CrystalHarding

Snow a year56″54″

January low1°F 3°F

July high80°F 80°F

Growing season (days)135d 139d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd 58th

Outdoors & history

CrystalHarding

Trails11 mi 18 mi

Conserved land15.3%38.3%

Community

CrystalHarding

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

99 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

CrystalWashburn County HardingLincoln County

Crystal ↔ Harding99 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.

Only big differences vs Wisconsin average

CrystalHarding

People

Population 277Lowest 301Highest

Median age 56.3±5.6 40% above WI 56.3±1.5 40% above WI

Kids under 18 16.6%±5.9Highest WI: 21.4% 12.6%±3.6Lowest WI: 21.4%

Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 30.7%±5.7Highest WI: 18.5% 26.6%±7.2Lowest WI: 18.5%

Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 28.1%Highest WI: 33.4% 23%Lowest WI: 33.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.9%±2.5Lowest WI: 5.8% 3.7%±3.4Highest WI: 5.8%

Harding and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $94,375±$17kHighest 22% above WI $86,875±$20kLowest 12% above WI

Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $226,200±$31kLowest 15% below WI $268,500±$18kHighest about the WI average

Harding and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly — $625±$246 43% below WI

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,971Lowest 48% below WI $3,457Highest 9% below WI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100Lowest WI: 43.7% 28.6%±100Highest WI: 43.7%

Harding and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 5.8%Lowest WI: 10.6% 7.3%Highest WI: 10.6%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 92.2%Lowest WI: 67.8% 94.4%Highest WI: 67.8%

Typical home builtmedian year 1987Highest 12 yrs newer than WI 1983Lowest 8 yrs newer than WI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 30 minLowest 37% above WI 31 minHighest 41% above WI

Work from home 11.6%±9.5Highest WI: 13.1% 10.8%±4.8Lowest WI: 13.1%

Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 1.9%Highest 1.6%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.3 miLowest 21.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.17Lowest 0.23Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Hayward (11%)Merrill (23%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in HardingFew work in Crystal

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 15.3%Lowest 38.3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 10.8 miLowest 17.5 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.2 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 3Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.0Highest 0.6Lowest

Wisconsin 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.

Crystal neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Crystal’s Town Square.

Harding neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Harding’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Crystal and Harding

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

Bordering Crystal

+ Compare

Springbrook578 people · $155K homes

+ Compare

Madge607 people · $319K homes

+ Compare

Spooner722 people · $270K homes

+ Compare

Stone Lake457 people · $246K homes

Towns like Crystal

+ Compare

Spirit319 people · $252K homes

+ Compare

Wilson310 people · $228K homes

+ Compare

Brooklyn341 people · $327K homes

+ Compare

Woodman191 people · $242K 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.

Crystal vs Harding

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

A typical home costs $350 more a month in Harding

What daily life feels like in each

99 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Crystal and Harding

Bordering Crystal

Towns like Crystal

Post to Crystal

Check your email