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De Smet vs Lincoln Township

95 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (52.9× in De Smet) and jobs per worker (10.9× in De Smet).

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De Smet, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 943 people
L ×
Lincoln Township, SDAn outdoors townBrown County · 1,598 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.

De SmetKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 18%of SD districts HistorySettled in 18805 places on the National Register Housing$261K typical home19% below the SD typical home All about De Smet →
Lincoln TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors38.1% conserved land8.5 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 70%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Lincoln 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.

Street grid52.9×
De Smet has the more walkable street grid
De Smet 79.4Lincoln Township 1.5
Jobs per worker10.9×
De Smet is more of a job hub
De Smet 1.42Lincoln Township 0.13
Conserved land+37.8 pts
Lincoln Township has more conserved land
Lincoln Township 38.1%De Smet 0.3%
Work in town+30.6 pts
More of De Smet’s workers stay in town
De Smet 31%Lincoln Township 0.4%
Typical home built28 yrs
De Smet’s homes are older
Lincoln Township 1986De Smet 1958
Property tax bill+24%
Tax bills are bigger in De Smet
De Smet $2,036Lincoln Township $1,643
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $220 more a month in De Smet

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.

De Smet$1,630/mo
Typical home $261K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.23% · or rent about $708/mo · Housing →
Lincoln Township$1,410/mo
Typical home $243K (Census) · tax rate 0.68% · Housing →

The difference: $220 a month, about $2,700 a year, between De Smet and Lincoln 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 South Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
C−De SmetBetter than 18% of districts in the state –Lincoln TownshipNot graded
Health
–De SmetNot graded B+Lincoln TownshipHealthier than 70% of U.S. towns
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
De SmetLincoln Township
Snow a year41″44″
January low5°F—
July high82°F—
Growing season (days)151d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th37th
Outdoors & history
De SmetLincoln Township
Trails0 mi9 mi
Conserved land0.3%38.1%
Settled1880—
National Register places5—
Community
De SmetLincoln Township
Library hours a week23 hrs—
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

95 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

De SmetSDLincoln TownshipBrown County
De Smet ↔ Lincoln Township95 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.

De SmetLincoln Township
People
Population 943Lowest 1,598Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3%Highest SD: +8.9% -8.6%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 47.3±9.4Lowest 24% above SD 51.1±9.6Highest 34% above SD
Lincoln Township and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.9%±3.9Highest SD: 24.2% 19.6%±9.3Lowest SD: 24.2%
De Smet and Lincoln Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 29.3%±5.1Highest SD: 18% 23.7%±6Lowest SD: 18%
De Smet and Lincoln Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.1%Lowest SD: 31.9% 29.8%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.3%±1.1Lowest SD: 5% 1.4%±2.4Highest SD: 5%
Lincoln Township and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $67,321±$16kLowest 10% below SD $79,040±$20kHighest 5% above SD
Lincoln Township and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $165,200±$24kLowest 36% below SD $242,900±$163kHighest 6% below SD
Lincoln Township and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $708±$307 25% below SD —
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,036Highest 25% below SD $1,643Lowest 40% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 28.1%±14.8Lowest SD: 39.8% 100%±100Highest SD: 39.8%
Lincoln Township and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 4.6%Lowest SD: 11.9% 11.9%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 85.2%Highest SD: 68.6% 84%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than SD 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 12 minLowest 34% below SD 15 minHighest 13% below SD
Work from home 6.9%±4.3Lowest SD: 9.7% 14%±10.8Highest SD: 9.7%
Lincoln Township and De Smet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 31%Highest 0.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 26.8 miHighest 6.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.42Highest 0.13Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (9%)Aberdeen (62%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Lincoln TownshipFew work in De Smet
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Lowest 38.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 8.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 79.4Highest 1.5Lowest
Schools
School district De Smet School District 38-2—
High school in town De Smet High School - 01—
Students per teacherat that high school 10.1 —
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.

De Smet neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to De Smet’s Town Square.

Lincoln Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lincoln Township’s Town Square.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks South Dakota towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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