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Lancaster vs Clinton

235 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (3.2× in Lancaster) and jobs per worker (2.3× in Lancaster).

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Lancaster, MNA regional job hubMinnesota · 315 people

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Clinton, MNHomes around $243KMinnesota · 281 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.

LancasterA regional job hub

Work223 jobsbased in Lancaster, a regional job hub All about Lancaster →

ClintonHomes around $243K

Housing$243K typical home31% below the MN typical home SchoolsBetter than 72%of MN districts All about Clinton →

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.

Property tax bill3.2×

Tax bills are bigger in Lancaster

Lancaster $1,800Clinton $567

Jobs per worker2.3×

Lancaster is more of a job hub

Lancaster 1.65Clinton 0.71

Street grid+78%

Clinton has the more walkable street grid

Clinton 37.5Lancaster 21.1

Work in town+8.1 pts

More of Lancaster’s workers stay in town

Lancaster 17%Clinton 8.9%

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $730 more a month in Clinton

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 paymentRate%

Lancaster$710/mo

Typical home $107K (Census) · tax rate 1.68% · or rent about $900/mo · Housing →

Clinton$1,440/mo

Typical home $243K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.81% · or rent about $625/mo · Housing →

The difference: $730 a month, about $8,700 a year, between Clinton and Lancaster.

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.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

B−LancasterBetter than 52% of districts in the state B+ClintonBetter than 72% of districts in the state

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

LancasterClinton

Snow a year—32″

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)79th 27th

Outdoors & history

LancasterClinton

Trails1 mi —

Conserved land0%—

Settled—1877

National Register places—1

Archive photos—1

Community

LancasterClinton

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

235 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

LancasterMN ClintonMN

Lancaster ↔ Clinton235 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 Minnesota average

LancasterClinton

People

Population 315Highest 281Lowest

Median age 49.7±7.8Highest 28% above MN 47.9±11.5Lowest 23% above MN

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

Kids under 18 24.1%±4.9Lowest MN: 22.9% 26.3%±8.2Highest MN: 22.9%

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

Age 65+ 23.5%±4.8Highest MN: 17.3% 20.6%±5.7Lowest MN: 17.3%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23%Highest MN: 39.4% 17.5%Lowest MN: 39.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.3%±2Highest MN: 5.8% 0%±5Lowest MN: 5.8%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $64,306±$14kLowest 28% below MN $88,750±$60kHighest about the MN average

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $107,300±$56kHighest 67% below MN $70,000±$33kLowest 79% below MN

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $900±$541Highest 30% below MN $625±$244Lowest 51% below MN

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,800Highest 46% below MN $567Lowest 83% below MN

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.6%±45.6Lowest MN: 48.1% 100%±100Highest MN: 48.1%

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

Below poverty line 4.8%Lowest MN: 9.3% 16%Highest MN: 9.3%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 79.9%Lowest MN: 72.2% 81%Highest MN: 72.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1957Highest 22 yrs older than MN 1946Lowest 33 yrs older than MN

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 20 minHighest 13% below MN 18 minLowest 19% below MN

Work from home 7.6%±3.8Lowest MN: 17.6% 20.5%±16.4Highest MN: 17.6%

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

Work in townworking residents 17%Highest 8.9%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.8 miHighest 19.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.65Highest 0.71Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Hallock (14%)Ortonville (22%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ClintonFew work in Lancaster

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.7 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 21.1Lowest 37.5Highest

Schools

School district LANCASTER PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTClinton-Graceville-Beardsley

High school in town Lancaster SecondaryNone in town

Students per teacherat that high school 14.3 —

Minnesota 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.

Lancaster neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lancaster’s Town Square.

Clinton neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clinton’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Lancaster and Clinton

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

Bordering Lancaster

Granville Township58 people · $238K homes

Poppleton Township87 people · $170K homes

Towns like Lancaster

Minnesota Falls Township396 people · $158K homes

Wood Lake368 people · $92K homes

Remer371 people · $153K homes

Herman441 people · $106K 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.