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Freeman vs Webster

138 miles apart. The biggest differences: kids under 18 (+12.3 pts in Freeman) and growth since 2010 (+10.2 pts in Freeman).

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Freeman, SDHomes around $255KSouth Dakota · 1,565 people
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Webster, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 1,896 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.

FreemanHomes around $255K
Housing$255K typical home21% below the SD typical home HealthHealthier than 64%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Freeman →
WebsterKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 80%of SD districts Housing$235K typical home27% below the SD typical home History7 historic places7 places on the National Register All about Webster →
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.

Kids under 18+12.3 pts
Freeman has more kids
Freeman 32.5%Webster 20.2%
Growth since 2010+10.2 pts
Freeman has grown faster since 2010
Freeman +1.8%Webster -8.4%
Work in town+18.7 pts
More of Webster’s workers stay in town
Webster 43.8%Freeman 25.1%
Property tax bill+21%
Tax bills are bigger in Freeman
Freeman $2,030Webster $1,683
Homeowners+8.3 pts renters
Webster has more renters
Freeman 75.1%Webster 66.8%
★ What stands out · 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+FreemanBetter than 42% of districts in the state A−WebsterBetter than 80% of districts in the state
Health
BFreemanHealthier than 64% of U.S. towns BWebsterHealthier than 58% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $160 more a month in Freeman

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.

Freeman$1,600/mo
Typical home $255K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.24% · or rent about $741/mo · Housing →
Webster$1,440/mo
Typical home $235K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.09% · or rent about $653/mo · Housing →

The difference: $160 a month, about $1,900 a year, between Freeman and Webster.

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
FreemanWebster
Snow a year41″43″
January low—2°F
July high—81°F
Growing season (days)—156d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)50th23rd
Outdoors & history
FreemanWebster
Trails1 mi2 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled1893—
National Register places37
Famous people born here4—
Community
FreemanWebster
Library hours a week41 hrs28 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

138 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

FreemanSDWebsterSD
Freeman ↔ Webster138 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.

FreemanWebster
People
Population 1,565Lowest 1,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.8%Highest SD: +8.9% -8.4%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 37.8±5.2Lowest about the SD average 40.5±2.9Highest 7% above SD
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 32.5%±5.3Highest SD: 24.2% 20.2%±3.8Lowest SD: 24.2%
Age 65+ 20.4%±2.2Lowest SD: 18% 20.9%±3.4Highest SD: 18%
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.3%Lowest SD: 31.9% 20.7%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.3%±1.4Lowest SD: 5% 3.6%±2.1Highest SD: 5%
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $57,440±$5kHighest 23% below SD $55,179±$7kLowest 27% below SD
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $164,200±$15kHighest 36% below SD $154,100±$34kLowest 40% below SD
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $741±$91Highest 22% below SD $653±$46Lowest 31% below SD
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,030Highest 25% below SD $1,683Lowest 38% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 36.1%±20.2Highest SD: 39.8% 33.6%±14.4Lowest SD: 39.8%
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 20.9%Highest SD: 11.9% 15.1%Lowest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 75.1%Highest SD: 68.6% 66.8%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than SD 1963Highest 17 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 11% below SD 19 minHighest 8% above SD
Work from home 3.5%±2.8Lowest SD: 9.7% 6.7%±6Highest SD: 9.7%
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 25.1%Lowest 43.8%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.8 miHighest 1.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.28Highest 1.04Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (15%)Webster Township (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in WebsterFew work in Freeman
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 1.4 miLowest 1.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.9 miLowest 1.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 69.8Lowest 80.6Highest
Schools
School district Freeman School District 33-1Webster Area School District 18-5
High school in town Freeman High School - 01Webster Area High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school 9.3Lowest 13.6Highest
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.

Freeman neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freeman’s Town Square.

Webster neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Webster’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Freeman and Webster

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Bordering Freeman

G
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Grandview Township104 people · $241K homes
V
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Valley Township198 people · $182K homes

Towns like Freeman

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Parkston1,874 people · $157K homes
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Platte1,161 people · $179K homes
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Parker1,280 people · $231K homes
I
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Ipswich1,048 people · $165K 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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