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Compare towns

Olivia vs Osakis

76 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (14× in Osakis) and work in town (+23.2 pts in Olivia).

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Olivia, MNHomes around $196KMinnesota · 2,205 people
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Osakis, MNOne of the safest townsMinnesota · 1,623 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.

OliviaHomes around $196K
Housing$196K typical home44% below the MN typical home SafetySafer than 81%of U.S. towns we grade Health64% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Olivia →
OsakisOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 93%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 86%of MN districts HistorySettled in 18661 place on the National Register All about Osakis →
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.

Trails14×
Osakis has more miles of trail
Osakis 1.4 miOlivia 0.1 mi
Work in town+23.2 pts
More of Olivia’s workers stay in town
Olivia 30.2%Osakis 7%
Jobs per worker2.4×
Olivia is more of a job hub
Olivia 1.16Osakis 0.48
Seasonal homes+17.2 pts
Osakis has more second homes
Osakis 17.2%Olivia 0%
Growth since 2010+7.5 pts
Osakis has grown faster since 2010
Osakis +1.8%Olivia -5.7%
Street grid+72%
Olivia has the more walkable street grid
Olivia 76.3Osakis 44.4
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $520 more a month in Osakis

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.

Olivia$1,220/mo
Typical home $196K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.17% · or rent about $780/mo · Housing →
Osakis$1,740/mo
Typical home $286K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.01% · or rent about $477/mo · Housing →

The difference: $520 a month, about $6,200 a year, between Osakis and Olivia.

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 Minnesota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
A−OliviaSafer than 81% of U.S. towns AOsakisSafer than 93% of U.S. towns
Schools
C+OliviaBetter than 44% of districts in the state AOsakisBetter than 86% of districts in the state
Health
C+OliviaHealthier than 36% of U.S. towns BOsakisHealthier than 59% 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
OliviaOsakis
Snow a year38″54″
January low2°F-1°F
July high82°F79°F
Growing season (days)146d134d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)20th43rd
Outdoors & history
OliviaOsakis
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled18781866
National Register places11
Archive photos818
Famous people born here52
Community
OliviaOsakis
Library hours a week41 hrs—
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

76 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

OliviaMNOsakisMN
Olivia ↔ Osakis76 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.

OliviaOsakis
People
Population 2,205Highest 1,623Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.7%Lowest MN: +7.6% +1.8%Highest MN: +7.6%
Median age 44.1±3.7Highest 14% above MN 43.4±9.5Lowest 12% above MN
Olivia and Osakis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23.6%±4Highest MN: 22.9% 21.7%±3.3Lowest MN: 22.9%
Olivia and Osakis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 23.1%±3.8Lowest MN: 17.3% 26.1%±3.4Highest MN: 17.3%
Osakis and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.1%Highest MN: 39.4% 19.1%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.8%±2Lowest MN: 5.8% 3.1%±1.7Highest MN: 5.8%
Osakis and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $63,098±$9kHighest 29% below MN $50,833±$14kLowest 43% below MN
Olivia and Osakis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $159,200±$13kLowest 52% below MN $173,500±$15kHighest 47% below MN
Osakis and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $780±$41Highest 39% below MN $477±$303Lowest 63% below MN
Olivia and Osakis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,863Highest 45% below MN $1,745Lowest 48% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 48.6%±13.4Highest MN: 48.1% 33.8%±9.3Lowest MN: 48.1%
Olivia and Osakis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.3%Lowest MN: 9.3% 14.5%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 66%Highest MN: 72.2% 63.1%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than MN 1976Highest 3 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 22% below MN 25 minHighest 9% above MN
Work from home 6.6%±3Lowest MN: 17.6% 7.9%±4.7Highest MN: 17.6%
Osakis and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 30.2%Highest 7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miHighest 11.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.16Highest 0.48Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Willmar (10%)Alexandria (38%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in OsakisFew work in Olivia
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miLowest 1.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.7 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Highest 3Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 76.3Highest 44.4Lowest
Schools
School district BIRD ISLAND-OLIVIA-LAKE LILLIANOSAKIS PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town BOLD Senior High SchoolOsakis Secondary
Students per teacherat that high school 8.8Lowest 15.8Highest
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.

Olivia neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Olivia’s Town Square.

Osakis neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Osakis’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Olivia and Osakis

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Bordering Olivia

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Bird Island Township208 people · $348K homes
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Troy Township347 people · $288K homes

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Springfield2,125 people · $122K 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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