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Toad Lake Township vs Shell Lake Township

Next-door neighbors in Becker County. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+81% in Shell Lake Township) and trails (3.6× in Shell Lake Township).

T ×
Toad Lake Township, MNA small town of 436Becker County · 436 people
S ×
Shell Lake Township, MNA small town of 365Becker County · 365 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.

Toad Lake TownshipA small town of 436
Quiet strengthsToad Lake Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Toad Lake Township →
Shell Lake TownshipA small town of 365
Quiet strengthsShell Lake Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Shell Lake 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.

Property tax bill+81%
Tax bills are bigger in Shell Lake Township
Shell Lake Township $1,649Toad Lake Township $913
Trails3.6×
Shell Lake Township has more miles of trail
Shell Lake Township 10.7 miToad Lake Township 3.0 mi
Jobs per worker3×
Toad Lake Township is more of a job hub
Toad Lake Township 0.12Shell Lake Township 0.04
Average commute9 min
Toad Lake Township has the shorter commute
Shell Lake Township 45 minToad Lake Township 36 min
Homeowners+8.7 pts renters
Toad Lake Township has more renters
Shell Lake Township 94.3%Toad Lake Township 85.6%
Typical home built13 yrs
Toad Lake Township’s homes are older
Shell Lake Township 1988Toad Lake Township 1975
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $550 more a month in Shell Lake 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.

Toad Lake Township$1,120/mo
Typical home $199K (Census) · tax rate 0.46% · or rent about $1,125/mo · Housing →
Shell Lake Township$1,680/mo
Typical home $293K (Census) · tax rate 0.56% · Housing →

The difference: $550 a month, about $6,600 a year, between Shell Lake Township and Toad Lake 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

Toad Lake Township and Shell Lake Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Toad Lake TownshipShell Lake TownshipToad Lake TownshipShell Lake Township
Toad Lake Township ↔ Shell Lake Township4.7 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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
Toad Lake TownshipShell Lake Township
Snow a year48″48″
January low-4°F-4°F
July high79°F79°F
Growing season (days)130d130d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)19th19th
Outdoors & history
Toad Lake TownshipShell Lake Township
Trails3 mi11 mi
Conserved land2%4.7%
Community
Toad Lake TownshipShell Lake 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.

Toad Lake TownshipShell Lake Township
People
Population 436Highest 365Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -8% MN: +7.6% —
Median age 57.3±15.8Highest 48% above MN 54.5±3.6Lowest 40% above MN
Toad Lake Township and Shell Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 17%±3.1Lowest MN: 22.9% 17.5%±3.8Highest MN: 22.9%
Shell Lake Township and Toad Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 36.7%±16Highest MN: 17.3% 29.6%±5.3Lowest MN: 17.3%
Toad Lake Township and Shell Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13.7%Lowest MN: 39.4% 14.3%Highest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.4%±2.5Lowest MN: 5.8% 1.6%±3Highest MN: 5.8%
Shell Lake Township and Toad Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $71,250±$1kHighest 20% below MN $61,875±$16kLowest 31% below MN
Toad Lake Township and Shell Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $199,400±$121kLowest 39% below MN $293,300±$49kHighest 11% below MN
Shell Lake Township and Toad Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,125±$147 12% below MN —
Property taxmedian, yearly $913Lowest 73% below MN $1,649Highest 51% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 40%±100Highest MN: 48.1% 0%±100Lowest MN: 48.1%
Toad Lake Township and Shell Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 7.8%Lowest MN: 9.3% 15.1%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 85.6%Lowest MN: 72.2% 94.3%Highest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than MN 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 36 minLowest 59% above MN 45 minHighest 96% above MN
Work from home 11.8%±5.7Lowest MN: 17.6% 16.3%±7.8Highest MN: 17.6%
Shell Lake Township and Toad Lake Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.9%Highest 0%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.3 miLowest 21.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.12Highest 0.04Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Detroit Lakes (30%)Detroit Lakes (36%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Shell Lake TownshipFew work in Toad Lake Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2%Lowest 4.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 3.0 miLowest 10.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.0Highest 0.8Lowest
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.

Toad Lake Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Toad Lake Township’s Town Square.

Shell Lake Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Shell Lake Township’s Town Square.

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Set another town beside Toad Lake Township and Shell Lake Township

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Bordering Toad Lake Township

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Wolf Lake Township351 people · $197K homes
+ Compare
Height of Land Township771 people · $264K homes
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Evergreen Township398 people · $179K homes

Towns like Toad Lake Township

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Crystal Bay Township469 people · $221K homes
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Taconite468 people · $220K homes
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Albert Lea Township428 people · $258K homes
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Star Lake Township490 people · $331K 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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