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Jackson vs Des Moines Township

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: street grid (38.1× in Jackson) and trails (16× in Des Moines Township).

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Jackson, MNKnown for its schoolsMinnesota · 3,287 people
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Des Moines Township, MNA small town of 234Jackson County · 234 people
Swap order
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.

JacksonKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 72%of MN districts Housing$207K typical home41% below the MN typical home HealthHealthier than 68%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Jackson →
Des Moines TownshipA small town of 234
Quiet strengthsDes Moines Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Des Moines 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.

Street grid38.1×
Jackson has the more walkable street grid
Jackson 41.9Des Moines Township 1.1
Trails16×
Des Moines Township has more miles of trail
Des Moines Township 1.6 miJackson 0.1 mi
Size14×
Jackson is the bigger place
Jackson 3,287Des Moines Township 234
Home values2×
Homes cost more in Des Moines Township
Des Moines Township $256,300Jackson $128,500
Work in town+40.6 pts
More of Jackson’s workers stay in town
Jackson 43.9%Des Moines Township 3.3%
Median age16.9 yrs
Des Moines Township skews older
Des Moines Township 59.1Jackson 42.2
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Des Moines 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.

Jackson$1,270/mo
Typical home $207K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.03% · or rent about $752/mo · Housing →
Des Moines Township$1,460/mo
Typical home $256K (Census) · tax rate 0.53% · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Des Moines Township and Jackson.

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.

Where they are

Jackson and Des Moines Township share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

JacksonDes Moines TownshipJacksonDes Moines Township
Jackson ↔ Des Moines Township3.7 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
30 Jackson residents work in Des Moines Township (1.9% of its workers)
29 Des Moines Township residents work in Jackson (31.5% of its workers)
Work & commute in Jackson →
Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
B+JacksonBetter than 72% of districts in the state –Des Moines TownshipNot graded
Health
B+JacksonHealthier than 68% of U.S. towns –Des Moines TownshipNot graded
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
JacksonDes Moines Township
Snow a year49″49″
January low5°F5°F
July high81°F81°F
Growing season (days)153d153d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th53rd
Outdoors & history
JacksonDes Moines Township
Trails0 mi2 mi
Conserved land1.3%0.2%
Settled18561866
National Register places2—
Archive photos6—
Famous people born here10—
Community
JacksonDes Moines Township
Library hours a week43 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.

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.

JacksonDes Moines Township
People
Population 3,287Highest 234Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +0.7% MN: +7.6% —
Median age 42.2±3.3Lowest 9% above MN 59.1±5.4Highest 52% above MN
Kids under 18 23%±3.8Highest MN: 22.9% 13.2%±5.8Lowest MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 21.7%±4.3Lowest MN: 17.3% 24.4%±8.1Highest MN: 17.3%
Des Moines Township and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 31.3%Highest MN: 39.4% 28.6%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±1.9Highest MN: 5.8% 1.3%±5Lowest MN: 5.8%
Jackson and Des Moines Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $70,223±$10kLowest 21% below MN $89,167±$15kHighest about the MN average
Des Moines Township and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $128,500±$22kLowest 61% below MN $256,300±$75kHighest 22% below MN
Rentmedian gross, monthly $752±$152 41% below MN —
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,323Lowest 61% below MN $1,357Highest 60% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 43.4%±15.5Highest MN: 48.1% 0%±100Lowest MN: 48.1%
Jackson and Des Moines Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.8%Highest MN: 9.3% 9.4%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 67%Lowest MN: 72.2% 88.5%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than MN 1964Highest 15 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 16 minLowest 28% below MN 19 minHighest 15% below MN
Work from home 8%±3.8Highest MN: 17.6% 7.5%±5.4Lowest MN: 17.6%
Jackson and Des Moines Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 43.9%Highest 3.3%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.8 miLowest 13.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.49Highest 0.88Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Lakefield (5%)Jackson (32%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 2% work in Des Moines Township32% work in Jackson
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.3%Highest 0.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 1.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 6Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 41.9Highest 1.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #151 of 230 in MN—
School district Region 6 and 8-SW/WC Service Coop · Jackson County Central School Dist.—
High school in town Jackson County Central Senior High—
Students per teacherat that high school 15.9 —
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.

Jackson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson’s Town Square.

Des Moines Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Des Moines Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Jackson

W
+ Compare
Wisconsin Township170 people · $211K homes

Towns like Jackson

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Benson3,441 people · $156K homes
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Blue Earth3,165 people · $144K homes
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Ada1,833 people · $138K homes
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Breckenridge3,349 people · $145K 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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