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Jasper vs Polk Township

183 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (33.1× in Jasper) and average commute (45 min in Jasper).

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Jasper, MOKnown for its schoolsMissouri · 808 people
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Polk Township, MOKnown for its schoolsDeKalb County · 909 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.

JasperKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 28%of MO districts All about Jasper →
Polk TownshipKnown for its schools
Schools#50 for schools in MOof 226 towns HealthHealthier than 50%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Polk 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 grid33.1×
Jasper has the more walkable street grid
Jasper 72.9Polk Township 2.2
Average commute45 min
Jasper has the shorter commute
Polk Township 67 minJasper 22 min
Property tax bill+64%
Tax bills are bigger in Polk Township
Polk Township $1,091Jasper $665
Work from home+15 pts
More people work from home in Polk Township
Polk Township 17.8%Jasper 2.8%
Jobs per worker2.8×
Jasper is more of a job hub
Jasper 0.87Polk Township 0.31
Rent+34%
Rent runs higher in Polk Township
Polk Township $896Jasper $667
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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

Schools
CJasperBetter than 28% of districts in the state B+Polk TownshipBetter than 73% of districts in the state
Health
–JasperNot graded B−Polk TownshipHealthier than 50% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Jasper$720/mo
Typical home $126K (Census) · tax rate 0.53% · or rent about $667/mo · Housing →
Polk Township$740/mo
Typical home $124K (Census) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $896/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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
JasperPolk Township
Snow a year7″18″
January low22°F—
July high88°F—
Growing season (days)199d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)71st53rd
Outdoors & history
JasperPolk Township
Trails0 mi2 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled—1845
Archive photos1—
Community
JasperPolk 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

183 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JasperMOPolk TownshipDeKalb County
Jasper ↔ Polk Township183 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.

JasperPolk Township
People
Population 808Lowest 909Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.7%Highest MO: +2.8% -4%Lowest MO: +2.8%
Median age 36.2±4.1Lowest 7% below MO 38.1±9.8Highest about the MO average
Polk Township and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.9%±4.3Highest MO: 22.3% 23%±3.8Lowest MO: 22.3%
Jasper and Polk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.1%±3.1Lowest MO: 17.9% 24.4%±4.8Highest MO: 17.9%
Polk Township and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.5%Lowest MO: 32.4% 20.6%Highest MO: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.1%±1.8Lowest MO: 5.7% 4.7%±4.3Highest MO: 5.7%
Polk Township and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $51,458±$18kLowest 27% below MO $65,455±$10kHighest 7% below MO
Polk Township and Jasper are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $126,200±$24kHighest 45% below MO $123,500±$29kLowest 46% below MO
Jasper and Polk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $667±$52Lowest 35% below MO $896±$146Highest 13% below MO
Property taxmedian, yearly $665Lowest 66% below MO $1,091Highest 44% below MO
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 32.8%±33.7Highest MO: 45.6% 13.2%±23.2Lowest MO: 45.6%
Jasper and Polk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.2%Highest MO: 12.6% 3.6%Lowest MO: 12.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 78%Highest MO: 68.1% 76.5%Lowest MO: 68.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1973Highest 5 yrs older than MO 1966Lowest 12 yrs older than MO
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minLowest 8% below MO 67 minHighest 184% above MO
Work from home 2.8%±2.4Lowest MO: 13% 17.8%±7.9Highest MO: 13%
Work in townworking residents 3.9%Highest 1.3%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.3 miLowest 24.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.87Highest 0.31Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Joplin (23%)St. Joseph (37%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Polk TownshipFew work in Jasper
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 1.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 72.9Highest 2.2Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#50 of 226 in MO
School district JASPER CO. R-VUNION STAR R-II
High school in town Jasper Co. High SchoolUnion Star High
Students per teacherat that high school 11.7Highest 8.5Lowest
Missouri 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.

Jasper neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jasper’s Town Square.

Polk Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Polk Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Missouri towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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