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Gray Township vs Elk Township

35 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (2.7× in Gray Township) and trails (2.3× in Elk Township).

G ×
Gray Township, MNA small town of 208Pipestone County · 208 people
E ×
Elk Township, MNA small town of 235Nobles County · 235 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.

Gray TownshipA small town of 208
Quiet strengthsGray Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Gray Township →
Elk TownshipA small town of 235
Quiet strengthsElk Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Elk 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.

Jobs per worker2.7×
Gray Township is more of a job hub
Gray Township 0.63Elk Township 0.23
Trails2.3×
Elk Township has more miles of trail
Elk Township 0.7 miGray Township 0.3 mi
Average commute7 min
Gray Township has the shorter commute
Elk Township 24 minGray Township 16 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $210 more a month in Gray 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.

Gray Township$1,900/mo
Typical home $336K (Census) · tax rate 0.49% · Housing →
Elk Township$1,680/mo
Typical home $291K (Census) · tax rate 0.64% · Housing →

The difference: $210 a month, about $2,600 a year, between Gray Township and Elk 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
Gray TownshipElk Township
Snow a year40″45″
January low5°F5°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)152d153d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)52nd42nd
Outdoors & history
Gray TownshipElk Township
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land0%—
Settled18791872
Community
Gray TownshipElk 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

35 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Gray TownshipPipestone CountyElk TownshipNobles County
Gray Township ↔ Elk Township35 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.

Gray TownshipElk Township
People
Population 208Lowest 235Highest
Median age 53.2±17Highest 37% above MN 53.1±7.1Lowest 37% above MN
Gray Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 27.4%±8.9Highest MN: 22.9% 19.6%±3.2Lowest MN: 22.9%
Gray Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.7%±7.3Lowest MN: 17.3% 28.5%±6.6Highest MN: 17.3%
Elk Township and Gray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.8%Highest MN: 39.4% 25.1%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.5%±4.9Lowest MN: 5.8% 4.3%±3Highest MN: 5.8%
Elk Township and Gray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $133,250±$33kHighest 50% above MN $112,143±$14kLowest 26% above MN
Gray Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $335,700±$29kHighest about the MN average $291,200±$38kLowest 12% below MN
Gray Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,653Lowest 51% below MN $1,875Highest 44% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent — 0%±100 MN: 48.1%
Below poverty line 1%Lowest MN: 9.3% 3.4%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 100%Highest MN: 72.2% 95.9%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than MN 1966Highest 13 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 28% below MN 24 minHighest 4% above MN
Work from home 2.4%±3.1Lowest MN: 17.6% 6.1%±4Highest MN: 17.6%
Elk Township and Gray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.7%Highest 0%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.8 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.63Highest 0.23Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Pipestone (28%)Worthington (29%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Elk TownshipFew work in Gray Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 0.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.1Highest 1.0Lowest
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.

Gray Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Gray Township’s Town Square.

Elk Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elk Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Gray Township

P
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Pipestone4,129 people · $114K homes
H
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Hatfield46 people
B
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Burke Township181 people · $288K homes
E
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Elmer Township266 people · $250K homes

Towns like Gray Township

A
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Aastad Township230 people · $272K homes
T
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Transit Township231 people · $273K homes
M
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Minneiska Township184 people · $323K homes
R
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Rosing Township194 people · $377K 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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