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Jefferson Township vs Athol Township

Next-door neighbors in Spink County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (12× in Jefferson Township) and bachelor’s degree+ (+28 pts in Jefferson Township).

J ×
Jefferson Township, SDOne of the healthiest townsSpink County · 119 people
A ×
Athol Township, SDAn outdoors townSpink County · 34 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.

Jefferson TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 77%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Jefferson Township →
Athol TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors23% conserved land19 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Athol 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.

Jobs per worker12×
Jefferson Township is more of a job hub
Jefferson Township 0.60Athol Township 0.05
Bachelor’s degree++28 pts
More adults in Jefferson Township have a degree
Jefferson Township 43.8%Athol Township 15.8%
Conserved land+21.5 pts
Athol Township has more conserved land
Athol Township 23%Jefferson Township 1.5%
Size3.5×
Jefferson Township is the bigger place
Jefferson Township 119Athol Township 34
Trails+90%
Athol Township has more miles of trail
Athol Township 19.0 miJefferson Township 10.0 mi
Typical home built17 yrs
Athol Township’s homes are older
Jefferson Township 2002Athol Township 1985
★ What stands out · Where they are

Jefferson Township and Athol Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Jefferson TownshipAthol TownshipJefferson TownshipAthol Township
Jefferson Township ↔ Athol Township8.7 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 –Athol 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 TownshipAthol Township
Snow a year43″43″
January low1°F1°F
July high84°F84°F
Growing season (days)137d137d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th30th
Outdoors & history
Jefferson TownshipAthol Township
Trails10 mi19 mi
Conserved land1.5%23%
Archive photos2—
Famous people born here2—
Community
Jefferson TownshipAthol 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 TownshipAthol Township
People
Population 119Highest 34Lowest
Median age 31.9±34.9Highest 16% below SD 27.5±22.3Lowest 28% below SD
Jefferson Township and Athol Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 32.8%±19.8Lowest SD: 24.2% 44.1%±65.9Highest SD: 24.2%
Athol Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 1.7%±28Lowest SD: 18% 14.7%±94.2Highest SD: 18%
Athol Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 43.8%Highest SD: 31.9% 15.8%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0%±11.9 SD: 5% 0%±41.6 SD: 5%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian — $80,625±$79k 7% above SD
Below poverty line 1.7%Lowest SD: 11.9% 26.5%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 93.9%Lowest SD: 68.6% 100%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2002Highest 22 yrs newer than SD 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than SD
Getting to work
Work from home 60.7%±65.3Highest SD: 9.7% 57.1%±55.5Lowest SD: 9.7%
Jefferson Township and Athol Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 50.8 miHighest 39.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.60Highest 0.05Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Redfield (13%)Redfield (11%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Athol TownshipFew work in Jefferson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.5%Lowest 23%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 10.0 miLowest 19.0 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 0.4 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 0.8Lowest 0.9Highest
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.

Athol Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Athol Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Jefferson Township

M
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Mellette Township67 people
T
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Three Rivers Township129 people · $419K homes
G
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Great Bend Township16 people
C
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Clifton Township51 people · $48K homes

Towns like Jefferson Township

+ Compare
Vivian Township158 people · $202K homes
D
+ Compare
Delaware Township203 people · $344K homes
H
+ Compare
Howard Township95 people
F
+ Compare
Farmington Township130 people · $268K 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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