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Harding vs Crystal

99 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+75% in Harding) and conserved land (+23 pts in Harding).

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Harding, WIAn outdoors townLincoln County · 301 people
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Crystal, WIAn outdoors townWashburn County · 277 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.

HardingAn outdoors town
Outdoors38.3% conserved land18 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Harding →
CrystalAn outdoors town
Outdoors15.3% conserved land11 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Crystal →
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.

Property tax bill+75%
Tax bills are bigger in Harding
Harding $3,457Crystal $1,971
Conserved land+23 pts
Harding has more conserved land
Harding 38.3%Crystal 15.3%
Street grid+67%
Crystal has the more walkable street grid
Crystal 1.0Harding 0.6
Trails+62%
Harding has more miles of trail
Harding 17.5 miCrystal 10.8 mi
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $350 more a month in Harding

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.

Harding$1,700/mo
Typical home $269K (Census) · tax rate 1.29% · or rent about $625/mo · Housing →
Crystal$1,350/mo
Typical home $226K (Census) · tax rate 0.87% · Housing →

The difference: $350 a month, about $4,100 a year, between Harding and Crystal.

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
HardingCrystal
Snow a year54″56″
January low3°F1°F
July high80°F80°F
Growing season (days)139d135d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th23rd
Outdoors & history
HardingCrystal
Trails18 mi11 mi
Conserved land38.3%15.3%
Community
HardingCrystal
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

99 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

HardingLincoln CountyCrystalWashburn County
Harding ↔ Crystal99 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.

HardingCrystal
People
Population 301Highest 277Lowest
Median age 56.3±1.5 40% above WI 56.3±5.6 40% above WI
Kids under 18 12.6%±3.6Lowest WI: 21.4% 16.6%±5.9Highest WI: 21.4%
Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 26.6%±7.2Lowest WI: 18.5% 30.7%±5.7Highest WI: 18.5%
Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23%Lowest WI: 33.4% 28.1%Highest WI: 33.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.7%±3.4Highest WI: 5.8% 2.9%±2.5Lowest WI: 5.8%
Harding and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $86,875±$20kLowest 12% above WI $94,375±$17kHighest 22% above WI
Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $268,500±$18kHighest about the WI average $226,200±$31kLowest 15% below WI
Harding and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $625±$246 43% below WI —
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,457Highest 9% below WI $1,971Lowest 48% below WI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 28.6%±100Highest WI: 43.7% 0%±100Lowest WI: 43.7%
Harding and Crystal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 7.3%Highest WI: 10.6% 5.8%Lowest WI: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 94.4%Highest WI: 67.8% 92.2%Lowest WI: 67.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1983Lowest 8 yrs newer than WI 1987Highest 12 yrs newer than WI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 41% above WI 30 minLowest 37% above WI
Work from home 10.8%±4.8Lowest WI: 13.1% 11.6%±9.5Highest WI: 13.1%
Crystal and Harding are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.6%Lowest 1.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miHighest 19.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.23Highest 0.17Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Merrill (23%)Hayward (11%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CrystalFew work in Harding
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 38.3%Highest 15.3%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 17.5 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 0.6Lowest 1.0Highest
Wisconsin 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.

Harding neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Harding’s Town Square.

Crystal neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Crystal’s Town Square.

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Set another town beside Harding and Crystal

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Bordering Harding

R
+ Compare
Rock Falls884 people · $166K homes
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Merrill2,873 people · $198K homes
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Corning976 people · $211K homes
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Tomahawk560 people · $199K homes

Towns like Harding

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Spirit319 people · $252K homes
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Wilson310 people · $228K homes
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Little Rice338 people · $225K homes
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Brooklyn341 people · $327K 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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