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Summerset vs Tea

329 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+16.7 pts in Summerset) and street grid (2.5× in Tea).

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Summerset, SDOne of the healthiest townsSouth Dakota · 3,022 people

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Tea, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 6,786 people

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 →

TeaKnown for its schools

Schools#3 for schools in SDof 34 towns Housing$389K typical home21% above the SD typical home HealthHealthier than 90%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Tea →

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.

Growth since 2010+16.7 pts

Summerset has grown faster since 2010

Summerset +63.8%Tea +47.1%

Street grid2.5×

Tea has the more walkable street grid

Tea 69.3Summerset 27.2

Work from home+15.4 pts

More people work from home in Tea

Tea 19.7%Summerset 4.3%

Tea has more miles of trail

Tea 2.0 miSummerset 0.8 mi

Tea is the bigger place

Tea 6,786Summerset 3,022

Jobs per worker+59%

Tea is more of a job hub

Tea 0.59Summerset 0.37

★ What stands out · Report cards

Tea places higher on 16 of 20 SD lists

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 BTeaSafer than 59% of U.S. towns

Schools

CSummersetBetter than 30% of districts in the state A−TeaBetter than 79% of districts in the state

Health

A−SummersetHealthier than 82% of U.S. towns ATeaHealthier than 90% of U.S. towns

4Summerset

16Tea

Lists won, of 20 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most remote workersWork · 37 towns #30#1 Best schoolsSchools · 34 towns #29#3 Most walkableOutdoors · 37 towns #33#9 Lowest obesityHealth · 37 towns #4#23 Fewest smokersHealth · 37 towns #21#4 Lowest depressionHealth · 37 towns #34#18 Most new homesHousing · 31 towns #13#3 Most conserved landOutdoors · 33 towns #33#23

Left end = #1 in South Dakota. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Summerset’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $250 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.

Down paymentRate%

Summerset$2,670/mo

Typical home $431K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.14% · or rent about $1,288/mo · Housing →

Tea$2,420/mo

Typical home $389K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.19% · or rent about $1,220/mo · Housing →

The difference: $250 a month, about $3,000 a year, between Summerset and Tea.

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

SummersetTea

Snow a year36″49″

January low13°F —

July high84°F —

Growing season (days)147d —

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th 37th

Outdoors & history

SummersetTea

Conserved land—2.2%

Settled2005 1894

National Register places—1

Community

SummersetTea

Library hours a week—17 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

329 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

SummersetSD TeaSD

Summerset ↔ Tea329 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.

Only big differences vs South Dakota average

SummersetTea

People

Population 3,022Lowest 6,786Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +63.8%Highest SD: +8.9% +47.1%Lowest SD: +8.9%

Median age 35.1±2.9Highest 8% below SD 30.6±2.2Lowest 19% below SD

Summerset and Tea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 29.3%±5.4Lowest SD: 24.2% 36.3%±5.8Highest SD: 24.2%

Tea and Summerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 8.2%±2.3Highest SD: 18% 5.5%±2Lowest SD: 18%

Summerset and Tea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 38.4%Lowest SD: 31.9% 47.1%Highest SD: 31.9%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.4%±2.4Highest SD: 5% 1.4%±1.2Lowest SD: 5%

Summerset and Tea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $119,271±$14kLowest 59% above SD $120,139±$19kHighest 60% above SD

Tea and Summerset 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 $351,100±$26kLowest 36% above SD

Summerset and Tea 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 $1,220±$260Lowest 29% above SD

Summerset and Tea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $4,204Highest 54% above SD $4,166Lowest 53% above SD

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 59.3%±21.1Highest SD: 39.8% 45.9%±23.2Lowest SD: 39.8%

Summerset and Tea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 8.6%Highest SD: 11.9% 4.7%Lowest SD: 11.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 78.7%Lowest SD: 68.6% 79.7%Highest SD: 68.6%

Typical home builtmedian year 2007Highest 27 yrs newer than SD 2004Lowest 24 yrs newer than SD

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 11% above SD 20 minHighest 13% above SD

Work from home 4.3%±2.2Lowest SD: 9.7% 19.7%±5.8Highest SD: 9.7%

Work in townworking residents 2.9%Lowest 9.8%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.3 miHighest 7.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.37Lowest 0.59Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Rapid City (62%)Sioux Falls (67%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in TeaFew work in Summerset

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 2.2%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miLowest 2.0 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miLowest 0.5 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 27.2Lowest 69.3Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #29 of 34 in SD #3 of 34 in SD

School district Meade School District 46-1Tea Area School District 41-5

High school in town None in townTea Area High School - 03

Students per teacherat that high school — 19.5

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.

Tea neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Tea’s Town Square.

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Bordering Summerset

Blackhawk2,934 people · $273K homes

Piedmont981 people · $324K homes

Wonderland Homes745 people · $265K homes

Towns like Summerset

Dell Rapids3,905 people · $302K homes

Hartford3,478 people · $258K homes

Elk Point2,537 people · $249K homes

Medary Township1,452 people · $312K 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.