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

72 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JavaSD Mellette TownshipSpink County

Java ↔ Mellette Township72 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.

Only big differences vs South Dakota average

JavaMellette Township

People

Population 78Highest 67Lowest

Median age 54.8±14.3Lowest 44% above SD 55.9±19.7Highest 47% above SD

Mellette Township and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 9%±26.4Lowest SD: 24.2% 13.4%±34Highest SD: 24.2%

Mellette Township and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 25.6%±26.5Lowest SD: 18% 47.8%±39.6Highest SD: 18%

Mellette Township and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20%Lowest SD: 31.9% 22.4%Highest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.3%±13.4Highest SD: 5% 0%±21.1Lowest SD: 5%

Java and Mellette Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $38,750±$26kLowest 48% below SD $62,500±$39kHighest 17% below SD

Mellette Township and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $54,200±$20k 79% below SD —

Property taxmedian, yearly $450 83% below SD —

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 66.7%±100 SD: 39.8% —

Below poverty line 25.6%Highest SD: 11.9% 0%Lowest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 76.3%Lowest SD: 68.6% 78.1%Highest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 1956Highest 24 yrs older than SD 1943Lowest 37 yrs older than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 32 minHighest 77% above SD 28 minLowest 54% above SD

Work from home 0%±32.3Lowest SD: 9.7% 33.3%±22.6Highest SD: 9.7%

Mellette Township and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 2.1%Highest 1.9%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.3 miHighest 23.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.55Lowest 1.23Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Selby (26%)Sioux Falls (13%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Mellette TownshipFew work in Java

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 2%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 34.8 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.5 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 90.5Highest 0.8Lowest

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.

Java neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Java’s Town Square.

Mellette Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mellette Township’s Town Square.

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks South Dakota 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.

Java vs Mellette Township

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

What daily life feels like in each

72 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

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