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Third River Township vs Birch Township

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: seasonal homes (+37.5 pts in Third River Township) and conserved land (+36 pts in Birch Township).

T ×
Third River Township, MNAn outdoors townItasca County · 48 people
B ×
Birch Township, MNAn outdoors townBeltrami County · 60 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.

Third River TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors24.8% conserved land10 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves All about Third River Township →
Birch TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors60.8% conserved land9.2 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves All about Birch Township →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Seasonal homes+37.5 pts
Third River Township has more second homes
Third River Township 47.5%Birch Township 10%
Conserved land+36 pts
Birch Township has more conserved land
Birch Township 60.8%Third River Township 24.8%
Typical home built12 yrs
Third River Township’s homes are older
Birch Township 1993Third River Township 1981
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $490 more a month in Birch 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.

Third River Township$900/mo
Typical home $144K (Census) · tax rate 1.22% · Housing →
Birch Township$1,390/mo
Typical home $235K (Census) · tax rate 0.78% · Housing →

The difference: $490 a month, about $5,800 a year, between Birch Township and Third River 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.

Where they are

Third River Township and Birch Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Third River TownshipBirch TownshipThird River TownshipBirch Township
Third River Township ↔ Birch Township5.2 miles apart · They share a border
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
Third River TownshipBirch Township
Snow a year49″49″
January low-4°F-4°F
July high79°F79°F
Growing season (days)131d131d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)74th44th
Outdoors & history
Third River TownshipBirch Township
Trails10 mi9 mi
Conserved land24.8%60.8%
Famous people born here1—
Community
Third River TownshipBirch 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.

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.

Third River TownshipBirch Township
People
Population 48Lowest 60Highest
Median age 64.8±5.8Highest 67% above MN 59.5±25Lowest 53% above MN
Third River Township and Birch Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 2.1%±55.3Lowest MN: 22.9% 25%±24.6Highest MN: 22.9%
Birch Township and Third River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 47.9%±43.1Highest MN: 17.3% 33.3%±30.4Lowest MN: 17.3%
Third River Township and Birch Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.1%Highest MN: 39.4% 18.2%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0%±29.5Lowest MN: 5.8% 1.7%±17.4Highest MN: 5.8%
Birch Township and Third River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $46,875±$14kHighest 47% below MN $38,750±$26kLowest 56% below MN
Third River Township and Birch Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $143,800±$93kLowest 56% below MN $235,400±$18kHighest 29% below MN
Birch Township and Third River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,750Lowest 48% below MN $1,833Highest 45% below MN
Below poverty line 10.4%Highest MN: 9.3% 10%Lowest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 100% MN: 72.2% 100% MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than MN 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way — 24 min 7% above MN
Work from home 10%±19.1Highest MN: 17.6% 7.1%±13.7Lowest MN: 17.6%
Third River Township and Birch Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 34.8 miHighest 21.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.15Highest 0.00Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Grand Rapids (10%)Bemidji (56%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Birch TownshipFew work in Third River Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 24.8%Lowest 60.8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 10.1 miHighest 9.2 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 mi 0.3 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5 5
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 0.5Lowest 0.6Highest
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.

Third River Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Third River Township’s Town Square.

Birch Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Birch Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Third River Township

M
+ Compare
Moose Park Township108 people · $120K homes
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Good Hope Township85 people · $219K homes

Towns like Third River Township

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Polk Centre Township37 people
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Seavey Township50 people
S
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Star Township61 people · $181K homes
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Rollis Township58 people · $142K 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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