Compare towns
Liberty Township vs Viola Township
42 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (4.4× in Viola Township) and street grid (2.8× in Liberty 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.
Liberty Township A small town of 156
Quiet strengths Liberty Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Liberty Township →
Viola Township A small town of 161
Quiet strengths Viola Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Viola Township →
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 $1,010 more a month in Viola 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 %
Liberty Township $1,270 /mo
Typical home $214K (Census) · tax rate 0.85% · Housing →
Viola Township $2,290 /mo
Typical home $339K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · Housing →
The difference: $1,010 a month , about $12,200 a year , between Viola Township and Liberty 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
Liberty Township Viola Township
Outdoors & history
Liberty Township Viola Township
National Register places 1 —
Community
Liberty Township Viola Township
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.
Liberty Township ↔ Viola Township 42 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
Liberty Township Viola Township
People
Population
156 Lowest
161 Highest
Median age
37.4 ±14.3 Highest
about the SD average
34.1 ±11.6 Lowest
10% below SD
Liberty Township and Viola Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
33.3% ±20 Lowest
SD: 24.2%
34.8% ±14.9 Highest
SD: 24.2%
Viola Township and Liberty Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.2% ±17.1 Lowest
SD: 18%
25.5% ±14.9 Highest
SD: 18%
Viola Township and Liberty Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.4% Highest
SD: 31.9%
38.1% Lowest
SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±9.1
SD: 5%
0% ±8.8
SD: 5%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,571 ±$48k Lowest
51% above SD
$128,021 ±$8k Highest
71% above SD
Viola Township and Liberty Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,500 ±$38k Lowest
17% below SD
$338,900 ±$95k Highest
32% above SD
Viola Township and Liberty Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,813
33% below SD
—
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0% ±100
SD: 39.8%
0% ±100
SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line
2.6% Lowest
SD: 11.9%
3.1% Highest
SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.7% Lowest
SD: 68.6%
74.1% Highest
SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971 Highest
9 yrs older than SD
1958 Lowest
22 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min Highest
56% above SD
22 min Lowest
24% above SD
Work from home
0% ±13.2 Lowest
SD: 9.7%
29% ±17.7 Highest
SD: 9.7%
Viola Township and Liberty 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
20.8 mi Highest
16.3 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
1.05 Highest
0.73 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Huron (42%) Wessington Springs (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Viola Township Few work in Liberty Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town
6% Highest
2.6% Lowest
Trailsmapped miles
3.0 mi Lowest
13.3 mi Highest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.1 mi Lowest
0.4 mi Highest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0
0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
1.4 Highest
0.5 Lowest
South Dakota average“±” 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.
Liberty Township or Viola Township: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Liberty Township? →
Moving to Liberty Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Liberty Township’s Town Square.
Viola Township or Liberty Township: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Viola Township? →
Moving to Viola Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Viola Township’s Town Square.
Add a town Set another town beside Liberty Township and Viola Township One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.
Bordering Liberty Township Towns like Liberty 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.
Copyright © 2026 TownTapestry · The guide for every city and town in America · In loving memory of John Cullinane whose interest in maps and discovering new places was contagious. Share TownTapestry to support us · Browse by state · Privacy · Terms