Compare towns
Red Lake Township vs Viola Township 40 miles apart. The biggest differences: household income (2.2× in Viola Township) and trails (3.6× in Viola 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.
Red Lake Township A small town of 117
Quiet strengths Red Lake Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Red Lake Township →
Viola Township A small town of 161
Quiet strengths Viola Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Viola 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 $1,010 more a month in Viola 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
Red Lake Township $1,280 /mo
Typical home $229K (Census) · tax rate 0.42% · Housing →
Viola Township $2,290 /mo
Typical home $339K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · Housing →
The difference: $1,010 a month , about $12,100 a year , between Viola Township and Red Lake 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.
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 40 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Red Lake Township ↔ Viola Township 40 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
117 Lowest 161 Highest
Median age
34.9 ±7.6 Highest 8% below SD 34.1 ±11.6 Lowest 10% below SD
Kids under 18
27.4% ±21.3 Lowest SD: 24.2% 34.8% ±14.9 Highest SD: 24.2%
Age 65+
6% ±29.4 Lowest SD: 18% 25.5% ±14.9 Highest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5% Highest SD: 31.9% 38.1% Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±12.1 SD: 5% 0% ±8.8 SD: 5%
Household incomemedian
$58,438 ±$34k Lowest 22% below SD $128,021 ±$8k Highest 71% above SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$228,600 ±$23k Lowest 11% below SD $338,900 ±$95k Highest 32% above SD
Property taxmedian, yearly
$952 65% below SD —
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0% ±100 SD: 39.8% 0% ±100 SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line
0% Lowest SD: 11.9% 3.1% Highest SD: 11.9%
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.7% Lowest SD: 68.6% 74.1% Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980 Highest same as SD 1958 Lowest 22 yrs older than SD
Average commuteone way
— 22 min 24% above SD
Work from home
42.9% ±37.4 Highest SD: 9.7% 29% ±17.7 Lowest SD: 9.7%
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
14.8 mi Lowest 16.3 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.00 Lowest 0.73 Highest
Top workplaceoutside town
Kimball (21%) Wessington Springs (33%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Viola Township Few work in Red Lake Township
Conserved landshare of the town
3.8% Highest 2.6% Lowest
Trailsmapped miles
3.7 mi Lowest 13.3 mi Highest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.1 mi Lowest 0.4 mi Highest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
1 Highest 0 Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
0.4 Lowest 0.5 Highest
“±” 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.
Red Lake Township or Viola Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Red Lake Township? → Moving to Red Lake Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Red Lake Township’s Town Square.
Viola Township or Red Lake Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Viola Township? → Moving to Viola Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Viola 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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