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Independence Township vs Chester Township

Next-door neighbors in Douglas County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.2× in Chester Township) and average commute (23 min in Independence Township).

I ×
Independence Township, SDA small town of 70Douglas County · 70 people
C ×
Chester Township, SDAn outdoors townDouglas County · 145 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.

Independence TownshipA small town of 70
Quiet strengthsIndependence Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Independence Township →
Chester TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors19.3% conserved land4.6 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Chester Township →
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 worker7.2×
Chester Township is more of a job hub
Chester Township 2.38Independence Township 0.33
Average commute23 min
Independence Township has the shorter commute
Chester Township 48 minIndependence Township 25 min
Homeowners+35 pts renters
Independence Township has more renters
Chester Township 92.9%Independence Township 57.9%
Household income+41%
Households in Chester Township earn more
Chester Township $181,719Independence Township $128,594
Conserved land+12.7 pts
Chester Township has more conserved land
Chester Township 19.3%Independence Township 6.6%
Size2.1×
Chester Township is the bigger place
Chester Township 145Independence Township 70
★ What stands out · Where they are

Independence Township and Chester Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Independence TownshipChester TownshipIndependence TownshipChester Township
Independence Township ↔ Chester Township7.3 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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
Independence TownshipChester Township
Snow a year34″34″
January low10°F10°F
July high88°F88°F
Growing season (days)157d157d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)35th35th
Outdoors & history
Independence TownshipChester Township
Trails5 mi5 mi
Conserved land6.6%19.3%
Community
Independence TownshipChester 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.

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.

Independence TownshipChester Township
People
Population 70Lowest 145Highest
Median age 49.2±14.9Highest 29% above SD 45.5±41.5Lowest 20% above SD
Independence Township and Chester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.9%±24.5Lowest SD: 24.2% 30.3%±14.4Highest SD: 24.2%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 4.3%±45.6Lowest SD: 18% 42.8%±20.1Highest SD: 18%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 32.6%Highest SD: 31.9% 27.7%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.3%±17.2Lowest SD: 5% 8.3%±9.6Highest SD: 5%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $128,594±$12kLowest 71% above SD $181,719±$38kHighest 142% above SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $383,300±$175k 49% above SD —
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100 SD: 39.8% —
Below poverty line 0% SD: 11.9% 0% SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 57.9%Lowest SD: 68.6% 92.9%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1946Highest 34 yrs older than SD 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minLowest 41% above SD 48 minHighest 171% above SD
Work from home 6.7%±7.3Lowest SD: 9.7% 14.3%±17.5Highest SD: 9.7%
Chester Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0%Lowest 6.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 29.8 miHighest 24.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.33Lowest 2.38Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Corsica (14%)Corsica (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 7% work in Chester TownshipFew work in Independence Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 6.6%Lowest 19.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 5.1 miHighest 4.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.0 1.0
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.

Independence Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Independence Township’s Town Square.

Chester Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Chester Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Independence Township

A
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Armour675 people · $106K homes
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Kennedy Township38 people
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Valley Township133 people · $1.09M homes
E
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East Choteau Township47 people · $563K homes

Towns like Independence Township

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White Lake Township96 people · $417K homes
B
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Blendon Township81 people · $233K homes
O
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Opdahl Township84 people · $275K homes
A
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Altamont Township63 people

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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