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Le Ray Township vs Benton Township

42 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (4.2× in Benton Township) and property tax bill (+46% in Le Ray Township).

L ×
Le Ray Township, MNA small town of 780Blue Earth County · 780 people
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Benton Township, MNKnown for its schoolsCarver County · 713 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.

Le Ray TownshipA small town of 780
Quiet strengthsLe Ray Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Le Ray Township →
Benton TownshipKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 72%of MN districts All about Benton 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 worker4.2×
Benton Township is more of a job hub
Benton Township 1.01Le Ray Township 0.24
Property tax bill+46%
Tax bills are bigger in Le Ray Township
Le Ray Township $4,384Benton Township $3,009
Kids under 18+9.5 pts
Le Ray Township has more kids
Le Ray Township 21.3%Benton Township 11.8%
Average commute7 min
Benton Township has the shorter commute
Le Ray Township 29 minBenton Township 22 min
Typical home built21 yrs
Benton Township’s homes are older
Le Ray Township 1983Benton Township 1962
Growth since 2010+6.1 pts
Le Ray Township has grown faster since 2010
Le Ray Township +1.9%Benton Township -4.2%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Le Ray Township$2,430/mo
Typical home $394K (Census) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $734/mo · Housing →
Benton Township$2,460/mo
Typical home $422K (Census) · tax rate 0.71% · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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
–Le Ray TownshipNot graded B+Benton TownshipBetter 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
Le Ray TownshipBenton Township
Snow a year39″52″
January low6°F4°F
July high82°F83°F
Growing season (days)161d151d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)38th32nd
Outdoors & history
Le Ray TownshipBenton Township
Trails1 mi0 mi
Conserved land1.2%0.7%
National Register places—2
Archive photos—6
Community
Le Ray TownshipBenton 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.

Where they are

42 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Le Ray TownshipBlue Earth CountyBenton TownshipCarver County
Le Ray Township ↔ Benton Township42 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.

Le Ray TownshipBenton Township
People
Population 780Highest 713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.9%Highest MN: +7.6% -4.2%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 53±16.3Lowest 37% above MN 53.3±4.4Highest 37% above MN
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.3%±5Highest MN: 22.9% 11.8%±3.1Lowest MN: 22.9%
Age 65+ 30.8%±7.6Highest MN: 17.3% 26.2%±4.2Lowest MN: 17.3%
Le Ray Township and Benton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.5%Highest MN: 39.4% 24.7%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±1.8Lowest MN: 5.8% 2.7%±2.5Highest MN: 5.8%
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $91,250±$13kLowest about the MN average $98,281±$11kHighest 10% above MN
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $394,100±$44kLowest 20% above MN $421,900±$48kHighest 28% above MN
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $734±$374 43% below MN —
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,384Highest 31% above MN $3,009Lowest 10% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 18.2%±100Lowest MN: 48.1% 50%±100Highest MN: 48.1%
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 7.8%Highest MN: 9.3% 1.1%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 94.9%Lowest MN: 72.2% 96.2%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than MN 1962Lowest 17 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minHighest 29% above MN 22 minLowest about the MN average
Work from home 8.7%±5.3Lowest MN: 17.6% 9.6%±4.6Highest MN: 17.6%
Benton Township and Le Ray Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.6%Lowest 2.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 20.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.24Lowest 1.01Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Mankato (38%)Waconia (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Benton TownshipFew work in Le Ray Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.2%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.4 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.5Highest 1.6Lowest
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.

Le Ray Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Le Ray Township’s Town Square.

Benton Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Benton Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Le Ray Township

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Eagle Lake3,281 people · $277K homes
M
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Madison Lake1,322 people · $303K homes
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McPherson Township346 people · $332K homes
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Janesville Township535 people · $332K homes

Towns like Le Ray Township

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Elysian Township739 people · $392K homes
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Ponto Lake Township721 people · $360K homes
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Milford Township760 people · $293K homes
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Turtle Lake Township714 people · $298K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Minnesota towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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