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Independence Township vs Opdahl Township

107 miles apart. The biggest differences: household income (2.8× in Independence Township) and jobs per worker (5.2× in Opdahl Township).

I ×
Independence Township, SDA small town of 70Douglas County · 70 people
O ×
Opdahl Township, SDA regional job hubHamlin County · 84 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.

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 →
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.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $890 more a month in Independence 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.

Independence Township$2,580/mo
Typical home $383K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · Housing →
Opdahl Township$1,690/mo
Typical home $275K (Census) · tax rate 1.09% · Housing →

The difference: $890 a month, about $10,700 a year, between Independence Township and Opdahl 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.

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.

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 TownshipOpdahl Township
Snow a year34″34″
January low10°F—
July high88°F—
Growing season (days)157d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)35th41st
Outdoors & history
Independence TownshipOpdahl Township
Trails5 mi1 mi
Conserved land6.6%9.4%
Community
Independence TownshipOpdahl 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

107 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Independence Township ↔ Opdahl Township107 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.

Independence TownshipOpdahl Township
People
Population 70Lowest 84Highest
Median age 49.2±14.9Highest 29% above SD 46.7±29.7Lowest 23% above SD
Independence Township and Opdahl Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.9%±24.5Highest SD: 24.2% 14.3%±31.2Lowest SD: 24.2%
Independence Township and Opdahl 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% 10.7%±39.1Highest SD: 18%
Opdahl 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% 20.8%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.3%±17.2Highest SD: 5% 0%±16.8Lowest SD: 5%
Independence Township and Opdahl 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±$12kHighest 71% above SD $45,938±$41kLowest 39% below SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $383,300±$175kHighest 49% above SD $275,000±$128kLowest 7% above SD
Independence Township and Opdahl Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly — $3,000 10% above SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100 SD: 39.8% 0%±80 SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line 0% SD: 11.9% 0% SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 57.9%Highest SD: 68.6% 52.8%Lowest 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 min 41% above SD —
Work from home 6.7%±7.3Highest SD: 9.7% 0%±15.9Lowest SD: 9.7%
Independence Township and Opdahl Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0%Lowest 4.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 29.8 miHighest 11.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.33Lowest 1.73Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Corsica (14%)Lake Norden (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Opdahl TownshipFew work in Independence Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 6.6%Lowest 9.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 5.1 miHighest 1.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.0Lowest 1.1Highest
Schools
School district —Hamlin School District 28-3
High school in town —Hamlin High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school — 12.2
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.

Opdahl Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Opdahl Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Independence Township and Opdahl Township

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Bordering Independence Township

Towns like Independence Township

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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