Compare towns
Richland Township vs Oak Lake Township 47 miles apart. The biggest differences: work from home (+70 pts in Oak Lake Township) and conserved land (+28.8 pts in Richland 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.
Oak Lake Township A small town of 109
Quiet strengths Oak Lake Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Oak 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.
★ What stands out · Monthly cost A typical home costs $730 more a month in Richland 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
Richland Township $2,350 /mo
Typical home $348K (Census) · tax rate est. 1.8% · Housing →
Oak Lake Township $1,610 /mo
Typical home $278K (Census) · tax rate 0.67% · Housing →
The difference: $730 a month , about $8,800 a year , between Richland Township and Oak 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 47 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Richland Township ↔ Oak Lake Township 47 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
112 Highest 109 Lowest
Median age
58.6 ±11.8 Lowest 54% above SD 60 ±21.6 Highest 58% above SD
Kids under 18
17.9% ±22.6 Lowest SD: 24.2% 22.9% ±20.2 Highest SD: 24.2%
Age 65+
33% ±25.7 Highest SD: 18% 29.4% ±39.2 Lowest SD: 18%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.3% Lowest SD: 31.9% 20.2% Highest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±12.6 SD: 5% 0% ±13 SD: 5%
Household incomemedian
— $133,125 ±$117k 77% above SD
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$347,900 ±$30k Highest 35% above SD $277,700 ±$16k Lowest 8% above SD
Property taxmedian, yearly
— $1,866 31% below SD
Below poverty line
0% SD: 11.9% 0% SD: 11.9%
Homeownersof occupied homes
100% SD: 68.6% 100% SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986 Highest 6 yrs newer than SD 1973 Lowest 7 yrs older than SD
Average commuteone way
20 min 14% above SD —
Work from home
0% ±17.5 Lowest SD: 9.7% 70% ±33.3 Highest SD: 9.7%
Work in townworking residents
2.8% Highest 0% Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
12.3 mi Lowest 16.8 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.42 Lowest 0.91 Highest
Top workplaceoutside town
Watertown (47%) Brookings (49%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Oak Lake Township Few work in Richland Township
Conserved landshare of the town
33.2% Highest 4.4% Lowest
Trailsmapped miles
3.8 mi Highest 1.9 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
6 Highest 0 Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
1.0 Lowest 1.1 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.
Richland Township or Oak Lake Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Richland Township? → Moving to Richland Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Richland Township’s Town Square.
Oak Lake Township or Richland Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Oak Lake Township? → Moving to Oak Lake Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Oak Lake Township’s Town Square.
Add a town Set another town beside Richland Township and Oak Lake Township One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.
Bordering Richland Township Towns like Richland 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.
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