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Groton vs Beresford

176 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (9.7× in Beresford) and growth since 2010 (+14 pts in Beresford).

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Groton, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 1,691 people

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Beresford, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 2,360 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.

GrotonKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 80%of SD districts HealthHealthier than 78%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Housing$250K typical home22% below the SD typical home All about Groton →

BeresfordOne of the healthiest towns

HealthHealthier than 75%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates

HistorySettled in 18844 places on the National Register All about Beresford →

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.

Beresford has more miles of trail

Beresford 2.9 miGroton 0.3 mi

Growth since 2010+14 pts

Beresford has grown faster since 2010

Beresford +8.7%Groton -5.3%

Average commute5 min

Groton has the shorter commute

Beresford 22 minGroton 17 min

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $390 more a month in Beresford

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.

Down paymentRate%

Groton$1,600/mo

Typical home $250K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.38% · or rent about $981/mo · Housing →

Beresford$1,990/mo

Typical home $328K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $914/mo · Housing →

The difference: $390 a month, about $4,700 a year, between Beresford and Groton.

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.

Safety

–GrotonNot graded B−BeresfordSafer than 54% of U.S. towns

Schools

A−GrotonBetter than 80% of districts in the state B−BeresfordBetter than 51% of districts in the state

Health

A−GrotonHealthier than 78% of U.S. towns A−BeresfordHealthier than 75% 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

GrotonBeresford

Snow a year32″31″

January low—7°F

July high—84°F

Growing season (days)—151d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)38th 41st

Outdoors & history

GrotonBeresford

Trails0 mi 3 mi

Conserved land0%0%

Settled1888 1884

National Register places3 4

Community

GrotonBeresford

Library hours a week43 hrs 43 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

176 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

GrotonSD BeresfordSD

Groton ↔ Beresford176 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.

Only big differences vs South Dakota average

GrotonBeresford

People

Population 1,691Lowest 2,360Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.3%Lowest SD: +8.9% +8.7%Highest SD: +8.9%

Median age 33.9±4.2Lowest 11% below SD 35.5±6.4Highest 7% below SD

Beresford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 30.6%±5.3Highest SD: 24.2% 30.4%±3.9Lowest SD: 24.2%

Groton and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 13%±4.1Lowest SD: 18% 18.6%±2.8Highest SD: 18%

Beresford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 35.5%Highest SD: 31.9% 28%Lowest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.8%±1.3Highest SD: 5% 2.4%±1.5Lowest SD: 5%

Groton and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $89,861±$25kHighest 20% above SD $78,793±$9kLowest 5% above SD

Groton and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $190,600±$43kLowest 26% below SD $234,400±$22kHighest 9% below SD

Beresford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $981±$70Highest 4% above SD $914±$206Lowest 3% below SD

Groton and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,631Highest 3% below SD $2,313Lowest 15% below SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 39.2%±18.4Highest SD: 39.8% 19.6%±12Lowest SD: 39.8%

Groton and Beresford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 4.3%Lowest SD: 11.9% 5.2%Highest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 73.1%Lowest SD: 68.6% 80.4%Highest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1975Highest 5 yrs older than SD 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 17 minLowest 6% below SD 22 minHighest 22% above SD

Work from home 3.8%±1.6 SD: 9.7% 3.8%±2 SD: 9.7%

Work in townworking residents 12.2%Lowest 15.2%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miLowest 27.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.69Lowest 0.91Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Aberdeen (38%)Sioux Falls (27%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BeresfordFew work in Groton

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 2.9 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 1.6 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 72.4Lowest 90.1Highest

Schools

School district Groton Area School District 06-6Beresford School District 61-2

High school in town Groton Area High School - 01Beresford High School - 01

Students per teacherat that high school 12.5Lowest 14.8Highest

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.

Groton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Groton’s Town Square.

Beresford neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Beresford’s Town Square.

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Towns like Groton

Elk Point2,537 people · $249K homes

Colman948 people · $236K homes

Hill City834 people · $286K homes

Aurora1,444 people · $235K 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.