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Nickerson Township vs Shell Lake Township

151 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (7.5× in Nickerson Township) and conserved land (+74.1 pts in Nickerson Township).

N ×
Nickerson Township, MNAn outdoors townPine County · 256 people
S ×
Shell Lake Township, MNA small town of 365Becker County · 365 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.

Nickerson TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors78.8% conserved land80 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Nickerson Township →
Shell Lake TownshipA small town of 365
Quiet strengthsShell Lake Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Shell Lake 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.

Trails7.5×
Nickerson Township has more miles of trail
Nickerson Township 80.4 miShell Lake Township 10.7 mi
Conserved land+74.1 pts
Nickerson Township has more conserved land
Nickerson Township 78.8%Shell Lake Township 4.7%
Property tax bill+45%
Tax bills are bigger in Nickerson Township
Nickerson Township $2,391Shell Lake Township $1,649
Street grid2×
Shell Lake Township has the more walkable street grid
Shell Lake Township 0.8Nickerson Township 0.4
Typical home built14 yrs
Nickerson Township’s homes are older
Shell Lake Township 1988Nickerson Township 1974
Average commute5 min
Nickerson Township has the shorter commute
Shell Lake Township 45 minNickerson Township 40 min
★ 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.

Nickerson Township$1,680/mo
Typical home $282K (Census) · tax rate 0.85% · Housing →
Shell Lake Township$1,680/mo
Typical home $293K (Census) · tax rate 0.56% · 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.

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
Nickerson TownshipShell Lake Township
Snow a year64″48″
January low-0°F-4°F
July high78°F79°F
Growing season (days)129d130d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)48th19th
Outdoors & history
Nickerson TownshipShell Lake Township
Trails80 mi11 mi
Conserved land78.8%4.7%
Community
Nickerson TownshipShell Lake 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

151 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Nickerson TownshipPine CountyShell Lake TownshipBecker County
Nickerson Township ↔ Shell Lake Township151 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.

Nickerson TownshipShell Lake Township
People
Population 256Lowest 365Highest
Median age 53.8±9.3Lowest 39% above MN 54.5±3.6Highest 40% above MN
Shell Lake Township and Nickerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.8%±7Lowest MN: 22.9% 17.5%±3.8Highest MN: 22.9%
Shell Lake Township and Nickerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 25.8%±7.4Lowest MN: 17.3% 29.6%±5.3Highest MN: 17.3%
Shell Lake Township and Nickerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 14.9%Highest MN: 39.4% 14.3%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.4%±4Lowest MN: 5.8% 1.6%±3Highest MN: 5.8%
Shell Lake Township and Nickerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $54,583±$12kLowest 39% below MN $61,875±$16kHighest 31% below MN
Shell Lake Township and Nickerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $282,100±$80kLowest 14% below MN $293,300±$49kHighest 11% below MN
Shell Lake Township and Nickerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,391Highest 29% below MN $1,649Lowest 51% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent — 0%±100 MN: 48.1%
Below poverty line 5.9%Lowest MN: 9.3% 15.1%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 98.1%Highest MN: 72.2% 94.3%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than MN 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 40 minLowest 76% above MN 45 minHighest 96% above MN
Work from home 12.1%±9.1Lowest MN: 17.6% 16.3%±7.8Highest MN: 17.6%
Shell Lake Township and Nickerson 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 28.3 miHighest 21.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.04 0.04
Top workplaceoutside town Duluth (13%)Detroit Lakes (36%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Shell Lake TownshipFew work in Nickerson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 78.8%Highest 4.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 80.4 miHighest 10.7 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.1 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 0.4Lowest 0.8Highest
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.

Nickerson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Nickerson Township’s Town Square.

Shell Lake Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Shell Lake Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Nickerson Township

+ Compare
Kerrick Township240 people · $300K homes
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Holyoke Township192 people · $218K homes
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Park Township46 people · $188K homes
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New Dosey Township70 people · $184K homes

Towns like Nickerson Township

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Logan Township210 people · $245K homes
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Lake Jessie Township200 people · $226K homes
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Lismore233 people
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Shell River Township170 people · $254K 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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