Compare towns
Lake Township vs Alto Township 56 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (9.5× in Lake Township) and trails (2.3× in Lake Township).
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 differ most 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 $220 more a month in Alto 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.
Down payment3.5% 10% 20% Rate
Lake Township $1,870 /mo
Typical home $329K (Census) · tax rate 0.54% · Housing →
Alto Township $2,090 /mo
Typical home $310K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · Housing →
The difference: $220 a month , about $2,600 a year , between Alto Township and Lake 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.
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
Outdoors & history
National Register places 3 — Community
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 56 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Lake Township ↔ Alto Township 56 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.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Population
51 Highest 34 Lowest
Median age
62.8 ±39.7 Lowest 65% above SD 66.5 ±19.7 Highest 75% above SD
Kids under 18
29.4% ±53.2 Highest SD: 24.2% 14.7% ±80.5 Lowest SD: 24.2%
Age 65+
43.1% ±47.3 Lowest SD: 18% 55.9% ±78.8 Highest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
8.3% Lowest SD: 31.9% 13.8% Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±27.7 SD: 5% 0% ±41.6 SD: 5%
Household incomemedian
$128,750 ±$122k Highest 71% above SD $56,250 ±$48k Lowest 25% below SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$328,600 ±$75k Highest 28% above SD $310,000 ±$157k Lowest 20% above SD
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,786 34% below SD —
Below poverty line
0% Lowest SD: 11.9% 29.4% Highest SD: 11.9%
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.6% Highest SD: 68.6% 69.2% Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938 42 yrs older than SD 1938 42 yrs older than SD
Work from home
0% ±71.4 Lowest SD: 9.7% 55.6% ±19.1 Highest SD: 9.7%
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
29.3 mi Highest 18.8 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.57 Highest 0.06 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Clark (18%) Sisseton (29%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Alto Township Few work in Lake Township
Conserved landshare of the town
28.5% Lowest 33.2% Highest
Trailsmapped miles
5.4 mi Highest 2.4 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.2 mi Highest 0.1 mi Lowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
0.5 Lowest 0.9 Highest
“±” Census margin of error ACS 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.
Lake Township or Alto Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Lake Township? → Moving to Lake Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Lake Township’s Town Square.
Alto Township or Lake Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Alto Township? → Moving to Alto Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Alto Township’s Town Square.
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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