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Hackensack vs Nelson

80 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.4× in Hackensack) and seasonal homes (+30.4 pts in Hackensack).

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Hackensack, MNA regional job hubMinnesota · 248 people

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Nelson, MNA small town of 155Minnesota · 155 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.

HackensackA regional job hub

Work437 jobsbased in Hackensack, a regional job hub All about Hackensack →

NelsonA small town of 155

Quiet strengthsNelson doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Nelson →

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.

Jobs per worker3.4×

Hackensack is more of a job hub

Hackensack 3.50Nelson 1.03

Seasonal homes+30.4 pts

Hackensack has more second homes

Hackensack 30.4%Nelson 0%

Property tax bill+40%

Tax bills are bigger in Nelson

Nelson $1,423Hackensack $1,019

Bachelor’s degree++12.2 pts

More adults in Hackensack have a degree

Hackensack 15.7%Nelson 3.5%

Average commute6 min

Hackensack has the shorter commute

Nelson 25 minHackensack 19 min

Work in town+11.2 pts

More of Hackensack’s workers stay in town

Hackensack 11.2%Nelson 0%

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,290 more a month in Hackensack

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%

Hackensack$2,230/mo

Typical home $390K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.58% · or rent about $620/mo · Housing →

Nelson$940/mo

Typical home $158K (Census) · tax rate 0.90% · or rent about $1,000/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,290 a month, about $15,500 a year, between Hackensack and Nelson.

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

HackensackNelson

Snow a year—54″

January low—-1°F

July high—79°F

Growing season (days)—134d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)17th 30th

Outdoors & history

HackensackNelson

Trails1 mi —

Conserved land0%—

National Register places1 —

Archive photos4 —

Community

HackensackNelson

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

80 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

HackensackMN NelsonMN

Hackensack ↔ Nelson80 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 Minnesota average

HackensackNelson

People

Population 248Highest 155Lowest

Median age 52.5±8.7Highest 35% above MN 48.1±5Lowest 24% above MN

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

Kids under 18 10.9%±9Lowest MN: 22.9% 20%±17.8Highest MN: 22.9%

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

Age 65+ 31%±15.6Highest MN: 17.3% 10.3%±14.2Lowest MN: 17.3%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.7%Highest MN: 39.4% 3.5%Lowest MN: 39.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.4%±4.7Lowest MN: 5.8% 3.9%±7.8Highest MN: 5.8%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $41,250±$17kLowest 54% below MN $57,188±$7kHighest 36% below MN

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $176,800±$22kHighest 46% below MN $157,500±$21kLowest 52% below MN

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $620±$109Lowest 52% below MN $1,000±$537Highest 22% below MN

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,019Lowest 70% below MN $1,423Highest 58% below MN

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 26.2%±18.3Lowest MN: 48.1% 70%±43.2Highest MN: 48.1%

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

Below poverty line 25.7%Highest MN: 9.3% 9%Lowest MN: 9.3%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 51.6%Lowest MN: 72.2% 54.5%Highest MN: 72.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than MN 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than MN

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 16% below MN 25 minHighest 10% above MN

Work from home 8.8%±7.5Highest MN: 17.6% 4.2%±7.2Lowest MN: 17.6%

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

Work in townworking residents 11.2%Highest 0%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 17.3 miHighest 6.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 3.50Highest 1.03Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Pine River (13%)Alexandria (52%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in NelsonFew work in Hackensack

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.5 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 36.0Highest 30.5Lowest

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.

Hackensack neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hackensack’s Town Square.

Nelson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Nelson’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Hackensack and Nelson

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Hackensack

Birch Lake Township529 people · $277K homes

Hiram Township503 people · $383K homes

Towns like Hackensack

Barnum503 people · $155K homes

Ulen413 people · $174K homes

McGregor367 people · $114K homes

Graceville564 people · $121K homes

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.