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Sylvan Township vs Wakefield Township

61 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2× in Wakefield Township) and jobs per worker (3.6× in Wakefield Township).

S ×
Sylvan Township, MNAn outdoors townCass County · 2,982 people
W ×
Wakefield Township, MNOne of the healthiest townsStearns County · 2,800 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.

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 $660 more a month in Wakefield 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.

Sylvan Township$1,720/mo
Typical home $298K (Census) · tax rate 0.63% · or rent about $1,188/mo · Housing →
Wakefield Township$2,380/mo
Typical home $395K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $1,281/mo · Housing →

The difference: $660 a month, about $7,900 a year, between Wakefield Township and Sylvan 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

Wakefield Township places higher on 10 of 19 MN lists

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.

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
Sylvan TownshipWakefield Township
Snow a year48″57″
January low-2°F4°F
July high80°F81°F
Growing season (days)141d155d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)47th63rd
Outdoors & history
Sylvan TownshipWakefield Township
Trails4 mi5 mi
Conserved land9%2%
National Register places1—
Community
Sylvan TownshipWakefield 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

61 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Sylvan Township ↔ Wakefield Township61 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.

Sylvan TownshipWakefield Township
People
Population 2,982Highest 2,800Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +6.9%Highest MN: +7.6% -0.4%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 44.4±2.4Lowest 14% above MN 47±8.9Highest 21% above MN
Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.2%±3.4Lowest MN: 22.9% 24.6%±5.9Highest MN: 22.9%
Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.1%±2.9Lowest MN: 17.3% 19.3%±3.8Highest MN: 17.3%
Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 31.8%Lowest MN: 39.4% 31.9%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.5%±1.9Highest MN: 5.8% 3.9%±2.1Lowest MN: 5.8%
Sylvan Township and Wakefield Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $95,354±$7kLowest 7% above MN $108,333±$15kHighest 22% above MN
Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $298,200±$32kLowest 9% below MN $394,700±$36kHighest 20% above MN
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,188±$350Lowest 7% below MN $1,281±$1kHighest about the MN average
Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,890Lowest 44% below MN $3,758Highest 12% above MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±64.5Lowest MN: 48.1% 57.1%±97.4Highest MN: 48.1%
Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.4%Highest MN: 9.3% 4%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 94.6%Lowest MN: 72.2% 97.1%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1994Highest 15 yrs newer than MN 1979Lowest same as MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest about the MN average 29 minHighest 28% above MN
Work from home 11.4%±4.1Lowest MN: 17.6% 15.4%±5.8Highest MN: 17.6%
Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.8%Lowest 6.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.8 miLowest 14.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.22Lowest 0.79Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Brainerd (22%)St. Cloud (23%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Wakefield TownshipFew work in Sylvan Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 9%Highest 2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 3.7 miLowest 4.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.7Lowest 4.2Highest
Schools
School district Central Lakes Adventure School—
High school in town Central Lakes Adventure School—
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.

Sylvan Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sylvan Township’s Town Square.

Wakefield Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wakefield Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Sylvan Township and Wakefield Township

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Bordering Sylvan Township

Towns like Sylvan 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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