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Compare towns

Ipswich vs Platte

142 miles apart. The biggest differences: work in town (+21 pts in Platte) and average commute (9 min in Platte).

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Ipswich, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 1,048 people
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Platte, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 1,161 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.

IpswichKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 83%of SD districts HealthHealthier than 74%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates History8 historic places8 places on the National Register All about Ipswich →
PlatteKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 90%of SD districts HealthHealthier than 64%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Platte →
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.

Work in town+21 pts
More of Platte’s workers stay in town
Platte 37.3%Ipswich 16.3%
Average commute9 min
Platte has the shorter commute
Ipswich 17 minPlatte 8 min
Growth since 2010+8.1 pts
Platte has grown faster since 2010
Platte +5.4%Ipswich -2.7%
Street grid+68%
Platte has the more walkable street grid
Platte 127Ipswich 75.8
Jobs per worker+63%
Platte is more of a job hub
Platte 1.47Ipswich 0.90
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,170 more a month in Platte

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.

Ipswich$1,000/mo
Typical home $165K (Census) · tax rate 0.96% · or rent about $1,053/mo · Housing →
Platte$2,170/mo
Typical home $357K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $832/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,170 a month, about $14,000 a year, between Platte and Ipswich.

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.

Schools
A−IpswichBetter than 83% of districts in the state APlatteBetter than 90% of districts in the state
Health
B+IpswichHealthier than 74% of U.S. towns BPlatteHealthier than 64% 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
IpswichPlatte
Snow a year34″46″
January low3°F—
July high84°F—
Growing season (days)143d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)29th51st
Outdoors & history
IpswichPlatte
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—2%
National Register places82
Archive photos—7
Famous people born here—9
Community
IpswichPlatte
Library hours a week26 hrs27 hrs
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

142 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

IpswichSDPlatteSD
Ipswich ↔ Platte142 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.

IpswichPlatte
People
Population 1,048Lowest 1,161Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.7%Lowest SD: +8.9% +5.4%Highest SD: +8.9%
Median age 34.9±14.5Lowest 8% below SD 35.6±6.2Highest 6% below SD
Platte and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.7%±5.3Lowest SD: 24.2% 24.6%±5.6Highest SD: 24.2%
Platte and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21.9%±4.3Highest SD: 18% 19.3%±5Lowest SD: 18%
Ipswich and Platte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.9%Lowest SD: 31.9% 22.4%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.2%±2.8Highest SD: 5% 1.8%±1.4Lowest SD: 5%
Ipswich and Platte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $74,167±$15kHighest about the SD average $72,700±$27kLowest 3% below SD
Ipswich and Platte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $164,700±$13kLowest 36% below SD $179,200±$63kHighest 30% below SD
Platte and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,053±$282Highest 11% above SD $832±$244Lowest 12% below SD
Ipswich and Platte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,587Lowest 42% below SD $1,782Highest 35% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 30.7%±31.3Highest SD: 39.8% 21.6%±16.5Lowest SD: 39.8%
Ipswich and Platte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.6%Lowest SD: 11.9% 14.7%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 69.7%Lowest SD: 68.6% 70.7%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than SD 1968Highest 12 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 17 minHighest 5% below SD 8 minLowest 54% below SD
Work from home 10.2%±6.7Highest SD: 9.7% 8.2%±5.3Lowest SD: 9.7%
Ipswich and Platte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 16.3%Lowest 37.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.3 miHighest 4.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.90Lowest 1.47Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Aberdeen (35%)Platte Township (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in PlatteFew work in Ipswich
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.5%Highest 2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.8Lowest 127Highest
Schools
School district Ipswich Public School District 22-6Platte - Geddes School District 11-5
High school in town Ipswich High School - 01Platte - Geddes High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school 14.3Highest 11.4Lowest
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.

Ipswich neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ipswich’s Town Square.

Platte neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Platte’s Town Square.

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Towns like Ipswich

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Arlington920 people · $144K homes
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Freeman1,565 people · $164K homes
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Murdo599 people · $132K homes
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Elkton977 people · $185K 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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