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Dayton Township vs La Valley Township

Next-door neighbors in Lincoln County. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+21.7 pts in La Valley Township) and typical home built (64 yrs in Dayton Township).

D ×
Dayton Township, SDOne of the healthiest townsLincoln County · 1,006 people
L ×
La Valley Township, SDA small town of 498Lincoln County · 498 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.

Dayton TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 77%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Dayton Township →
La Valley TownshipA small town of 498
Quiet strengthsLa Valley Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about La Valley 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.

Growth since 2010+21.7 pts
La Valley Township has grown faster since 2010
La Valley Township +25.8%Dayton Township +4.1%
Typical home built64 yrs
Dayton Township’s homes are older
La Valley Township 2002Dayton Township 1938
Jobs per worker3.3×
La Valley Township is more of a job hub
La Valley Township 0.75Dayton Township 0.23
Bachelor’s degree++27.7 pts
More adults in Dayton Township have a degree
Dayton Township 41.4%La Valley Township 13.7%
Size2×
Dayton Township is the bigger place
Dayton Township 1,006La Valley Township 498
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $810 more a month in La Valley 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.

Dayton Township$2,160/mo
Typical home $340K (Census) · tax rate 1.31% · Housing →
La Valley Township$2,960/mo
Typical home $495K (Census) · tax rate 0.90% · Housing →

The difference: $810 a month, about $9,700 a year, between La Valley Township and Dayton 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.

Where they are

Dayton Township and La Valley Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Dayton TownshipLa Valley TownshipDayton TownshipLa Valley Township
Dayton Township ↔ La Valley Township6.5 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every South Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Health
A−Dayton TownshipHealthier than 77% of U.S. towns –La Valley 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
Dayton TownshipLa Valley Township
Snow a year49″49″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)54th54th
Outdoors & history
Dayton TownshipLa Valley Township
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land0.2%0%
National Register places—2
Community
Dayton TownshipLa Valley 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.

Dayton TownshipLa Valley Township
People
Population 1,006Highest 498Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.1%Lowest SD: +8.9% +25.8%Highest SD: +8.9%
Median age 50.8±11.8Lowest 34% above SD 55±12.8Highest 45% above SD
La Valley Township and Dayton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.1%±8.1Highest SD: 24.2% 21.1%±12.1Lowest SD: 24.2%
Dayton Township and La Valley Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 29%±10.1Highest SD: 18% 13.7%±9.7Lowest SD: 18%
Dayton Township and La Valley Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 41.4%Highest SD: 31.9% 13.7%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.9%±3Highest SD: 5% 0%±2.8Lowest SD: 5%
Dayton Township and La Valley Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $104,583±$98kLowest 39% above SD $135,489±$53kHighest 80% above SD
La Valley Township and Dayton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $340,200±$269kLowest 32% above SD $494,900±$121kHighest 92% above SD
La Valley Township and Dayton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,470Highest 64% above SD $4,431Lowest 63% above SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100 SD: 39.8% 0%±100 SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line 1.8%Lowest SD: 11.9% 5.2%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 97.2%Highest SD: 68.6% 94.8%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than SD 2002Highest 22 yrs newer than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 10% above SD 23 minHighest 27% above SD
Work from home 16.7%±8.1Lowest SD: 9.7% 20%±12.5Highest SD: 9.7%
La Valley Township and Dayton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.1%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.3 miHighest 9.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.23Lowest 0.75Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (65%)Sioux Falls (63%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in La Valley TownshipFew work in Dayton Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.2%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 1.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.5Lowest 1.6Highest
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.

Dayton Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Dayton Township’s Town Square.

La Valley Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to La Valley Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Dayton Township

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+ Compare
Harrisburg8,519 people · $312K homes
+ Compare
Canton Township514 people · $509K homes
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Springdale Township1,791 people · $664K homes

Towns like Dayton Township

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Cortlandt Township834 people · $375K homes
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Dell Rapids Township704 people · $391K homes
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Herman Township844 people · $291K homes
J
+ Compare
Jefferson Township1,088 people · $400K 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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