Compare towns
Ola Township vs Valley Township
73 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (4× in Ola Township) and conserved land (+44.1 pts in Valley 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.
Ola Township A small town of 17
Quiet strengths Ola Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Ola 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.
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
Ola Township Valley Township
Outdoors & history
Ola Township Valley Township
Community
Ola Township Valley 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 73 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Ola Township ↔ Valley Township 73 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
Ola Township Valley Township
People
Population
17 Highest
14 Lowest
Median age
73.9 ±53.8 Highest
94% above SD
54.9 ±26.7 Lowest
44% above SD
Ola Township and Valley Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
0% ±100
SD: 24.2%
0% ±100
SD: 24.2%
Age 65+
70.6% ±100 Highest
SD: 18%
42.9% ±100 Lowest
SD: 18%
Ola Township and Valley Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
70.6% Lowest
SD: 31.9%
78.6% Highest
SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±83.2
SD: 5%
0% ±100
SD: 5%
Cost of living
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100% ±100
SD: 39.8%
—
Below poverty line
29.4% Lowest
SD: 11.9%
57.1% Highest
SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
61.5% Highest
SD: 68.6%
27.3% Lowest
SD: 68.6%
Getting to work
Work from home
0% ±100
SD: 9.7%
0% ±100
SD: 9.7%
Work in townworking residents
0%
0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
37.3 mi Lowest
72.8 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.05 Highest
0.00 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Chamberlain (20%) Sioux Falls (25%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Valley Township Few work in Ola Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town
1.4% Lowest
45.5% Highest
Trailsmapped miles
7.9 mi Highest
2.0 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.2 mi Highest
0.1 mi Lowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0
0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
0.6 Highest
0.3 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.
Ola Township or Valley Township: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Ola Township? →
Moving to Ola Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Ola Township’s Town Square.
Valley Township or Ola Township: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Valley Township? →
Moving to Valley Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Valley Township’s Town Square.
Add a town Set another town beside Ola Township and Valley Township One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.
Bordering Ola Township Towns like Ola 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