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Staples vs Olivia

111 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (6× in Staples) and property tax bill (+44% in Olivia).

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Staples, MNA regional job hubMinnesota · 2,269 people
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Olivia, MNHomes around $196KMinnesota · 2,205 people
Swap order
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.

StaplesA regional job hub
Work2,046 jobsbased in Staples, a regional job hub Housing$218K typical home38% below the MN typical home All about Staples →
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 →
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.

Trails6×
Staples has more miles of trail
Staples 0.6 miOlivia 0.1 mi
Property tax bill+44%
Tax bills are bigger in Olivia
Olivia $1,863Staples $1,291
Street grid+61%
Olivia has the more walkable street grid
Olivia 76.3Staples 47.5
Growth since 2010+6 pts
Staples has grown faster since 2010
Staples +0.3%Olivia -5.7%
Average commute4 min
Olivia has the shorter commute
Staples 22 minOlivia 18 min
Work in town+8.2 pts
More of Olivia’s workers stay in town
Olivia 30.2%Staples 22%
★ What stands out · 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
C+StaplesSafer than 42% of U.S. towns A−OliviaSafer than 81% of U.S. towns
Schools
C+StaplesBetter than 41% of districts in the state C+OliviaBetter than 44% of districts in the state
Health
C+StaplesHealthier than 40% of U.S. towns C+OliviaHealthier than 36% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Staples$1,320/mo
Typical home $218K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $844/mo · Housing →
Olivia$1,220/mo
Typical home $196K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.17% · or rent about $780/mo · Housing →

The difference: $100 a month, about $1,200 a year, between Staples 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.

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
StaplesOlivia
Snow a year51″38″
January low-2°F2°F
July high78°F82°F
Growing season (days)141d146d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)44th20th
Outdoors & history
StaplesOlivia
Trails—0 mi
Conserved land—0%
Settled—1878
National Register places21
Archive photos88
Famous people born here85
Community
StaplesOlivia
Library hours a week35 hrs41 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

111 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

StaplesMNOliviaMN
Staples ↔ Olivia111 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.

StaplesOlivia
People
Population 2,269Highest 2,205Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +0.3%Highest MN: +7.6% -5.7%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 42.1±9.1Lowest 9% above MN 44.1±3.7Highest 14% above MN
Olivia and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.5%±4.8Highest MN: 22.9% 23.6%±4Lowest MN: 22.9%
Staples and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 29.4%±2.5Highest MN: 17.3% 23.1%±3.8Lowest MN: 17.3%
Staples and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 22.2%Highest MN: 39.4% 21.1%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.2%±1.6Lowest MN: 5.8% 2.8%±2Highest MN: 5.8%
Olivia and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $52,071±$9kLowest 42% below MN $63,098±$9kHighest 29% below MN
Olivia and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $130,000±$27kLowest 61% below MN $159,200±$13kHighest 52% below MN
Olivia and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $844±$121Highest 34% below MN $780±$41Lowest 39% below MN
Staples and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,291Lowest 62% below MN $1,863Highest 45% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.1%±16.5Highest MN: 48.1% 48.6%±13.4Lowest MN: 48.1%
Staples and Olivia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.9%Highest MN: 9.3% 13.3%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 62.9%Lowest MN: 72.2% 66%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1966 13 yrs older than MN 1966 13 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minHighest about the MN average 18 minLowest 22% below MN
Work from home 5.7%±3.4Lowest MN: 17.6% 6.6%±3Highest MN: 17.6%
Olivia and Staples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 22%Lowest 30.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miHighest 13.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.69Highest 1.16Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Wadena (9%)Willmar (10%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in OliviaFew work in Staples
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.4%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.6 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 5Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 47.5Lowest 76.3Highest
Schools
School district Freshwater Education District · STAPLES-MOTLEY SCHOOL DISTRICTBIRD ISLAND-OLIVIA-LAKE LILLIAN
High school in town Staples-Motley Senior HighBOLD Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school 16.3Highest 8.8Lowest
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.

Staples neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Staples’s Town Square.

Olivia neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Olivia’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Staples and Olivia

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Staples

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Staples Township935 people · $192K homes
T
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Thomastown Township738 people · $257K homes
V
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Villard Township698 people · $286K homes

Towns like Staples

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Aitkin2,323 people · $181K homes
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Osakis1,623 people · $174K homes
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Roseau2,736 people · $164K homes
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Pelican Rapids2,586 people · $174K 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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