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Compare towns

Medary Township vs Summerset

322 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (9.7× in Summerset) and growth since 2010 (+64.2 pts in Summerset).

M ×
Medary Township, SDOne of the healthiest townsBrookings County · 1,452 people
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Summerset, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 3,022 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.

Medary TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 84%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors12.5% conserved land0.6 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Medary Township →
SummersetOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 82%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Housing$431K typical home34% above the SD typical home SafetySafer than 72%of U.S. towns we grade All about Summerset →
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.

Street grid9.7×
Summerset has the more walkable street grid
Summerset 27.2Medary Township 2.8
Growth since 2010+64.2 pts
Summerset has grown faster since 2010
Summerset +63.8%Medary Township -0.4%
Rent+50%
Rent runs higher in Summerset
Summerset $1,288Medary Township $859
Jobs per worker2.6×
Summerset is more of a job hub
Summerset 0.37Medary Township 0.14
Property tax bill+28%
Tax bills are bigger in Summerset
Summerset $4,204Medary Township $3,286
Conserved land+12.4 pts
Medary Township has more conserved land
Medary Township 12.5%Summerset 0.1%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $760 more a month in Summerset

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.

Medary Township$1,910/mo
Typical home $312K (Census) · tax rate 1.05% · or rent about $859/mo · Housing →
Summerset$2,670/mo
Typical home $431K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.14% · or rent about $1,288/mo · Housing →

The difference: $760 a month, about $9,100 a year, between Summerset and Medary 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.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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

Safety
–Medary TownshipNot graded B+SummersetSafer than 72% of U.S. towns
Schools
–Medary TownshipNot graded CSummersetBetter than 30% of districts in the state
Health
A−Medary TownshipHealthier than 84% of U.S. towns A−SummersetHealthier than 82% of U.S. towns
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
Medary TownshipSummerset
Snow a year36″36″
January low4°F13°F
July high81°F84°F
Growing season (days)145d147d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)62nd84th
Outdoors & history
Medary TownshipSummerset
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land12.5%—
Settled—2005
National Register places2—
Community
Medary TownshipSummerset
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

322 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Medary TownshipBrookings CountySummersetSD
Medary Township ↔ Summerset322 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.

Medary TownshipSummerset
People
Population 1,452Lowest 3,022Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.4%Lowest SD: +8.9% +63.8%Highest SD: +8.9%
Median age 33.6±15.3Lowest 12% below SD 35.1±2.9Highest 8% below SD
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.5%±7.8Lowest SD: 24.2% 29.3%±5.4Highest SD: 24.2%
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 13.1%±5.5Highest SD: 18% 8.2%±2.3Lowest SD: 18%
Medary Township and Summerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 37.8%Lowest SD: 31.9% 38.4%Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 9.8%±8Highest SD: 5% 3.4%±2.4Lowest SD: 5%
Medary Township and Summerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $107,583±$32kLowest 43% above SD $119,271±$14kHighest 59% above SD
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $312,400±$46kLowest 21% above SD $368,300±$25kHighest 43% above SD
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $859±$14Lowest 9% below SD $1,288±$116Highest 36% above SD
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,286Lowest 21% above SD $4,204Highest 54% above SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±26Lowest SD: 39.8% 59.3%±21.1Highest SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line 6.7%Lowest SD: 11.9% 8.6%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.5%Highest SD: 68.6% 78.7%Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1993Lowest 13 yrs newer than SD 2007Highest 27 yrs newer than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 17 minLowest 7% below SD 20 minHighest 11% above SD
Work from home 15.5%±11.1Highest SD: 9.7% 4.3%±2.2Lowest SD: 9.7%
Medary Township and Summerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.9%Lowest 2.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 7.3 miLowest 10.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.14Lowest 0.37Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Brookings (56%)Rapid City (62%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SummersetFew work in Medary Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 12.5%Highest 0.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.6 miLowest 0.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.8Lowest 27.2Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#29 of 34 in SD
School district —Meade School District 46-1
High school in town —None in town
South Dakota 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.

Medary Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Medary Township’s Town Square.

Summerset neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Summerset’s Town Square.

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Bordering Medary Township

B
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Brookings23,948 people · $266K homes
T
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Trenton Township249 people
F
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Fremont Township77 people · $594K homes
O
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Oslo Township246 people

Towns like Medary Township

C
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Colman948 people · $236K homes
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Hill City834 people · $286K homes
+ Compare
Humboldt732 people · $228K homes
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+ Compare
Groton1,691 people · $191K 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.

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