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Jefferson Township vs Big Sioux Township

Next-door neighbors in Union County. The biggest differences: street grid (11× in Big Sioux Township) and jobs per worker (7.7× in Big Sioux Township).

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Jefferson Township, SDOne of the healthiest townsUnion County · 1,088 people
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Big Sioux Township, SDAn outdoors townUnion County · 4,917 people
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.

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.

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $710 more a month in Big Sioux 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$2,390/mo
Typical home $400K (Census) · tax rate 0.88% · Housing →
Big Sioux Township$3,100/mo
Typical home $502K (Census) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $1,225/mo · Housing →

The difference: $710 a month, about $8,500 a year, between Big Sioux 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 Big Sioux Township share a border

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

Jefferson TownshipBig Sioux TownshipJefferson TownshipBig Sioux Township
Jefferson Township ↔ Big Sioux Township4.8 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Who commutes between them
40 Jefferson Township residents work in Big Sioux Township (9.1% of its workers)
Work & commute in Jefferson Township →
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.

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 TownshipBig Sioux Township
Snow a year36″36″
January low10°F10°F
July high85°F85°F
Growing season (days)159d159d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)82nd86th
Outdoors & history
Jefferson TownshipBig Sioux Township
Trails5 mi22 mi
Conserved land0.7%18.8%
Archive photos2—
Famous people born here2—
Community
Jefferson TownshipBig Sioux 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 TownshipBig Sioux Township
People
Population 1,088Lowest 4,917Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +18.2%Lowest SD: +8.9% +43.7%Highest SD: +8.9%
Median age 43.6±2.8Highest 15% above SD 41.7±4Lowest 10% above SD
Jefferson Township and Big Sioux Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.6%±11.8Highest SD: 24.2% 25.6%±5.4Lowest SD: 24.2%
Jefferson Township and Big Sioux Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 7.7%±6.9Lowest SD: 18% 19.7%±4.3Highest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 46.1%Lowest SD: 31.9% 56.3%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0%±1.3Lowest SD: 5% 1.3%±1.5Highest SD: 5%
Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $196,442±$74kHighest 162% above SD $128,005±$21kLowest 70% above SD
Jefferson Township and Big Sioux Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $400,000±$72kLowest 55% above SD $502,200±$66kHighest 95% above SD
Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $1,225±$89 29% above SD
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,522Lowest 29% above SD $5,567Highest 104% above SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent — 38.8%±19.9 SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line 2%Lowest SD: 11.9% 3.2%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 93.8%Highest SD: 68.6% 73.8%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1980Lowest same as SD 2003Highest 23 yrs newer than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minHighest 17% above SD 12 minLowest 31% below SD
Work from home 10.7%±10.6Lowest SD: 9.7% 11.2%±7.4Highest SD: 9.7%
Big Sioux Township and Jefferson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.9%Lowest 28.4%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miHighest 4.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.24Lowest 1.85Highest
Top workplaceoutside town North Sioux City (21%)North Sioux City (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 9% work in Big Sioux TownshipFew work in Jefferson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Lowest 18.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 5.4 miLowest 22.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 1.9 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.5Lowest 16.5Highest
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.

Big Sioux Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Big Sioux Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Jefferson Township and Big Sioux Township

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

Bordering Jefferson Township

Towns like Jefferson Township

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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