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Summerset vs Medary Township

322 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (9.7× in Summerset) and growth since 2010 (+64.2 pts in Summerset).

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Summerset, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 3,022 people
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Medary Township, SDOne of the healthiest townsBrookings County · 1,452 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.

SummersetOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 82%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Housing$431K typical home34% above the SD typical home SafetySafer than 72%of U.S. towns we grade All about Summerset →
Medary TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 84%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors12.5% conserved land0.6 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Medary 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.

Street grid9.7×
Summerset has the more walkable street grid
Summerset 27.2Medary Township 2.8
Growth since 2010+64.2 pts
Summerset has grown faster since 2010
Summerset +63.8%Medary Township -0.4%
Rent+50%
Rent runs higher in Summerset
Summerset $1,288Medary Township $859
Jobs per worker2.6×
Summerset is more of a job hub
Summerset 0.37Medary Township 0.14
Property tax bill+28%
Tax bills are bigger in Summerset
Summerset $4,204Medary Township $3,286
Conserved land+12.4 pts
Medary Township has more conserved land
Medary Township 12.5%Summerset 0.1%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $760 more a month in Summerset

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.

Summerset$2,670/mo
Typical home $431K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.14% · or rent about $1,288/mo · Housing →
Medary Township$1,910/mo
Typical home $312K (Census) · tax rate 1.05% · or rent about $859/mo · Housing →

The difference: $760 a month, about $9,100 a year, between Summerset and Medary 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.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every South Dakota ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
B+SummersetSafer than 72% of U.S. towns –Medary TownshipNot graded
Schools
CSummersetBetter than 30% of districts in the state –Medary TownshipNot graded
Health
A−SummersetHealthier than 82% of U.S. towns A−Medary TownshipHealthier than 84% 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
SummersetMedary Township
Snow a year36″36″
January low13°F4°F
July high84°F81°F
Growing season (days)147d145d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th62nd
Outdoors & history
SummersetMedary Township
Trails—1 mi
Conserved land—12.5%
Settled2005—
National Register places—2
Community
SummersetMedary Township
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

322 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SummersetSDMedary TownshipBrookings County
Summerset ↔ Medary Township322 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.

SummersetMedary Township
People
Population 3,022Highest 1,452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +63.8%Highest SD: +8.9% -0.4%Lowest SD: +8.9%
Median age 35.1±2.9Highest 8% below SD 33.6±15.3Lowest 12% below SD
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.3%±5.4Highest SD: 24.2% 25.5%±7.8Lowest SD: 24.2%
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 8.2%±2.3Lowest SD: 18% 13.1%±5.5Highest SD: 18%
Medary Township and Summerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 38.4%Highest SD: 31.9% 37.8%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.4%±2.4Lowest SD: 5% 9.8%±8Highest SD: 5%
Medary Township and Summerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $119,271±$14kHighest 59% above SD $107,583±$32kLowest 43% above SD
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $368,300±$25kHighest 43% above SD $312,400±$46kLowest 21% above SD
Summerset and Medary Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,288±$116Highest 36% above SD $859±$14Lowest 9% below SD
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,204Highest 54% above SD $3,286Lowest 21% above SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 59.3%±21.1Highest SD: 39.8% 0%±26Lowest SD: 39.8%
Below poverty line 8.6%Highest SD: 11.9% 6.7%Lowest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 78.7%Lowest SD: 68.6% 83.5%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 2007Highest 27 yrs newer than SD 1993Lowest 13 yrs newer than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minHighest 11% above SD 17 minLowest 7% below SD
Work from home 4.3%±2.2Lowest SD: 9.7% 15.5%±11.1Highest SD: 9.7%
Medary Township and Summerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.9%Highest 0.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.3 miHighest 7.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.37Highest 0.14Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Rapid City (62%)Brookings (56%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Medary TownshipFew work in Summerset
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 12.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miHighest 0.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 27.2Highest 2.8Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #29 of 34 in SD—
School district Meade School District 46-1—
High school in town None in town—
South Dakota 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.

Summerset neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Summerset’s Town Square.

Medary Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Medary Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Summerset

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Blackhawk2,934 people · $273K homes
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Piedmont981 people · $324K homes
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Wonderland Homes745 people · $265K homes

Towns like Summerset

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Dell Rapids3,905 people · $302K homes
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Hartford3,478 people · $258K homes
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Elk Point2,537 people · $249K homes
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Beresford2,360 people · $234K 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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