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Elmo Township vs Traverse Township

145 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (6× in Elmo Township) and property tax bill (2.3× in Traverse Township).

E ×
Elmo Township, MNAn outdoors townOtter Tail County · 356 people
T ×
Traverse Township, MNA small town of 291Nicollet County · 291 people
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.

Traverse TownshipA small town of 291
Quiet strengthsTraverse Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Traverse 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.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $580 more a month in Traverse 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.

Elmo Township$1,480/mo
Typical home $258K (Census) · tax rate 0.59% · Housing →
Traverse Township$2,060/mo
Typical home $339K (Census) · tax rate 1.01% · or rent about $2,227/mo · Housing →

The difference: $580 a month, about $7,000 a year, between Traverse Township and Elmo 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.

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
Elmo TownshipTraverse Township
Snow a year51″38″
January low-2°F3°F
July high78°F82°F
Growing season (days)141d153d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)21st50th
Outdoors & history
Elmo TownshipTraverse Township
Trails2 mi0 mi
Conserved land15.2%1%
Settled1880—
Community
Elmo TownshipTraverse 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

145 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Elmo Township ↔ Traverse Township145 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.

Elmo TownshipTraverse Township
People
Population 356Highest 291Lowest
Median age 39.8±6.1 about the MN average 39.8±26.3 about the MN average
Kids under 18 25.3%±3.9Highest MN: 22.9% 13.4%±7.7Lowest MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 22.2%±5.2Highest MN: 17.3% 19.6%±5.4Lowest MN: 17.3%
Elmo Township and Traverse 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 MN: 39.4% 25.5%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.1%±3.3Lowest MN: 5.8% 1.4%±1.2Highest MN: 5.8%
Traverse Township and Elmo Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $66,964±$11kLowest 25% below MN $79,700±$34kHighest 11% below MN
Traverse Township and Elmo Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $258,300±$116kLowest 22% below MN $339,100±$55kHighest about the MN average
Traverse Township and Elmo Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $2,227±$102 74% above MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,512Lowest 55% below MN $3,429Highest about the MN average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100Lowest MN: 48.1% 91.7%±84.3Highest MN: 48.1%
Traverse Township and Elmo Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8.7%Highest MN: 9.3% 1.4%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.2%Highest MN: 72.2% 80.6%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than MN 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minHighest 29% above MN 19 minLowest 19% below MN
Work from home 10.7%±5Highest MN: 17.6% 1.2%±2.3Lowest MN: 17.6%
Work in townworking residents 1.5%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.3 miHighest 12.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.24Lowest 0.42Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Alexandria (13%)St. Peter (25%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Traverse TownshipFew work in Elmo Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 15.2%Highest 1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.4 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.2 1.2
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.

Elmo Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elmo Township’s Town Square.

Traverse Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Traverse Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Elmo Township

Towns like Elmo Township

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Minnesota 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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