Compare towns
McGrath vs Leonard 135 miles apart. The biggest differences: typical home built (40 yrs in Leonard) and street grid (2.2× in McGrath).
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.
Leonard A small town of 12
Quiet strengths Leonard doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Leonard →
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 $350 more a month in McGrath 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
McGrath $1,190 /mo
Typical home $210K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.50% · Housing →
Leonard $840 /mo
Typical home $125K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · Housing →
The difference: $350 a month , about $4,200 a year , between McGrath and Leonard.
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
Growing season (days) 144d — Outdoors & history
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 135 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
McGrath ↔ Leonard 135 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
28 Highest 12 Lowest
Median age
68.5 ±13.1 Highest 77% above MN 65.5 ±2.4 Lowest 69% above MN
Kids under 18
0% ±100 MN: 22.9% 0% ±100 MN: 22.9%
Age 65+
53.6% ±81.2 Highest MN: 17.3% 50% ±100 Lowest MN: 17.3%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
3.6% Highest MN: 39.4% 0% Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±50.5 MN: 5.8% 0% ±100 MN: 5.8%
Household incomemedian
— $53,750 ±$28k 40% below MN
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$72,500 ±$57k Lowest 78% below MN $125,000 ±$89k Highest 62% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly
$363 89% below MN —
Below poverty line
67.9% Highest MN: 9.3% 0% Lowest MN: 9.3%
Homeownersof occupied homes
100% MN: 72.2% 100% MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980 Highest 1 yr newer than MN 1940 Lowest 39 yrs older than MN
Work from home
0% ±100 MN: 17.6% —
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
30.8 mi Highest 22.3 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
2.13 Highest 1.00 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Aitkin Township (20%) Clearbrook (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Leonard Few work in McGrath
Conserved landshare of the town
0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles
0.7 mi Lowest 1.3 mi Highest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
1.8 mi Lowest 2.6 mi Highest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
32.3 Highest 15.0 Lowest
“±” 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.
McGrath or Leonard: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in McGrath? → Moving to McGrath: what should I know? →
Your question goes to McGrath’s Town Square.
Leonard or McGrath: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Leonard? → Moving to Leonard: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Leonard’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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