Compare towns
Norris Township vs Lawrence Township 254 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (9.4× in Norris Township) and home values (+75% in Norris 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.
Lawrence Township A small town of 245
Quiet strengths Lawrence Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Lawrence 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 $270 more a month in Norris 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
Norris Township $640 /mo
Typical home $95K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · Housing →
Lawrence Township $360 /mo
Typical home $54K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $446/mo · Housing →
The difference: $270 a month , about $3,300 a year , between Norris Township and Lawrence 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.
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
Outdoors & history
Community
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 254 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Norris Township ↔ Lawrence Township 254 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
172 Lowest 245 Highest
Median age
21 ±6.5 Lowest 45% below SD 22.3 ±9.7 Highest 41% below SD
Kids under 18
47.1% ±39 Highest SD: 24.2% 43.3% ±28.9 Lowest SD: 24.2%
Age 65+
3.5% ±19.8 Lowest SD: 18% 14.7% ±12.1 Highest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9% Lowest SD: 31.9% 25.5% Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±8.2 Lowest SD: 5% 4.9% ±7.6 Highest SD: 5%
Household incomemedian
— $60,375 ±$33k 20% below SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$94,600 ±$2k Highest 63% below SD $54,100 ±$5k Lowest 79% below SD
Rentmedian gross, monthly
— $446 ±$276 53% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100% ±79.3 Highest SD: 39.8% 0% ±64.5 Lowest SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line
68.7% Highest SD: 11.9% 23.7% Lowest SD: 11.9%
Homeownersof occupied homes
56% Highest SD: 68.6% 52.3% Lowest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976 Lowest 4 yrs older than SD 1981 Highest 1 yr newer than SD
Average commuteone way
— 11 min 36% below SD
Work from home
0% ±32.3 SD: 9.7% 0% ±10.9 SD: 9.7%
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
29.3 mi Highest 24.8 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.00 Lowest 0.03 Highest
Top workplaceoutside town
White River (17%) Sisseton (27%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Lawrence Township Few work in Norris Township
Conserved landshare of the town
0% Lowest 2.4% Highest
Trailsmapped miles
4.7 mi Highest 0.5 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.2 mi Highest 0.0 mi Lowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 Lowest 1 Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
1.5 Highest 1.3 Lowest
School district
White River School District 47-1 —
High school in town
None in town —
“±” 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.
Norris Township or Lawrence Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Norris Township? → Moving to Norris Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Norris Township’s Town Square.
Lawrence Township or Norris Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Lawrence Township? → Moving to Lawrence Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Lawrence Township’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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