Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Jefferson Township vs Clare Township

Next-door neighbors in Moody County. The biggest differences: conserved land (+21.3 pts in Jefferson Township) and bachelor’s degree+ (+20.1 pts in Jefferson Township).

J ×
Jefferson Township, SDOne of the healthiest townsMoody County · 183 people
C ×
Clare Township, SDA small town of 251Moody County · 251 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.

Jefferson TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 77%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors22.4% conserved land1.3 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Jefferson Township →
Clare TownshipA small town of 251
Quiet strengthsClare Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Clare 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.

Conserved land+21.3 pts
Jefferson Township has more conserved land
Jefferson Township 22.4%Clare Township 1.1%
Bachelor’s degree++20.1 pts
More adults in Jefferson Township have a degree
Jefferson Township 35.7%Clare Township 15.6%
Typical home built30 yrs
Jefferson Township’s homes are older
Clare Township 2021Jefferson Township 1991
Homeowners+17.9 pts renters
Clare Township has more renters
Jefferson Township 100%Clare Township 82.1%
Property tax bill+28%
Tax bills are bigger in Clare Township
Clare Township $2,439Jefferson Township $1,900
Jobs per worker+66%
Jefferson Township is more of a job hub
Jefferson Township 0.53Clare Township 0.32
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,310 more a month in Clare 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.

Jefferson Township$1,900/mo
Typical home $332K (Census) · tax rate 0.57% · Housing →
Clare Township$3,210/mo
Typical home $574K (Census) · tax rate 0.43% · Housing →

The difference: $1,310 a month, about $15,800 a year, between Clare Township and Jefferson 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.

Where they are

Jefferson Township and Clare Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Jefferson TownshipClare TownshipJefferson TownshipClare Township
Jefferson Township ↔ Clare Township5.5 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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.

Health
A−Jefferson TownshipHealthier than 77% of U.S. towns –Clare 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
Jefferson TownshipClare Township
Snow a year43″40″
January low—4°F
July high—81°F
Growing season (days)—148d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)37th37th
Outdoors & history
Jefferson TownshipClare Township
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land22.4%—
Community
Jefferson TownshipClare 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.

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.

Jefferson TownshipClare Township
People
Population 183Lowest 251Highest
Median age 51.1±18.5Highest 34% above SD 40.1±9.5Lowest 6% above SD
Jefferson Township and Clare Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24%±9.2Lowest SD: 24.2% 46.2%±43.6Highest SD: 24.2%
Clare Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.5%±18.6Highest SD: 18% 5.6%±12.3Lowest SD: 18%
Jefferson Township and Clare Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 35.7%Highest SD: 31.9% 15.6%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.8%±7.2Highest SD: 5% 0%±5.6Lowest SD: 5%
Jefferson Township and Clare Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $101,250±$45kLowest 35% above SD $110,737±$15kHighest 47% above SD
Clare Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $331,600±$128kLowest 29% above SD $573,700±$205kHighest 123% above SD
Clare Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,900Lowest 30% below SD $2,439Highest 10% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent — 0%±100 SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line 0% SD: 11.9% 0% SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 100%Highest SD: 68.6% 82.1%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1991Lowest 11 yrs newer than SD 2021Highest 41 yrs newer than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 26 min 48% above SD —
Work from home 6%±6.6Highest SD: 9.7% 0%±9Lowest SD: 9.7%
Jefferson Township and Clare Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.1%Highest 0%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miLowest 32.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.53Highest 0.32Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Sioux Falls (27%)Sioux Falls (35%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Clare TownshipFew work in Jefferson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 22.4%Highest 1.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.3 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.0Lowest 1.1Highest
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.

Jefferson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jefferson Township’s Town Square.

Clare Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clare Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Jefferson Township and Clare Township

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Jefferson Township

F
+ Compare
Fremont Township77 people · $594K homes
R
+ Compare
Rutland Township276 people · $372K homes
C
+ Compare
Colman Township334 people · $375K homes

Towns like Jefferson Township

F
+ Compare
Fuller Township245 people · $278K homes
G
+ Compare
Grange Township141 people · $256K homes
L
+ Compare
Letcher Township102 people
E
+ Compare
Eden Township111 people · $338K 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.

Post to Jefferson Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in