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Wakefield Township vs Sylvan Township

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

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

Wakefield Township$2,380/mo
Typical home $395K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $1,281/mo · Housing →
Sylvan Township$1,720/mo
Typical home $298K (Census) · tax rate 0.63% · or rent about $1,188/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
Wakefield TownshipSylvan Township
Snow a year57″48″
January low4°F-2°F
July high81°F80°F
Growing season (days)155d141d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)63rd47th
Outdoors & history
Wakefield TownshipSylvan Township
Trails5 mi4 mi
Conserved land2%9%
National Register places—1
Community
Wakefield TownshipSylvan 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.

Wakefield Township ↔ Sylvan 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.

Wakefield TownshipSylvan Township
People
Population 2,800Lowest 2,982Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.4%Lowest MN: +7.6% +6.9%Highest MN: +7.6%
Median age 47±8.9Highest 21% above MN 44.4±2.4Lowest 14% 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 24.6%±5.9Highest MN: 22.9% 22.2%±3.4Lowest 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+ 19.3%±3.8Highest MN: 17.3% 17.1%±2.9Lowest 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+ 31.9%Highest MN: 39.4% 31.8%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.9%±2.1Lowest MN: 5.8% 4.5%±1.9Highest 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 $108,333±$15kHighest 22% above MN $95,354±$7kLowest 7% 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 $394,700±$36kHighest 20% above MN $298,200±$32kLowest 9% below MN
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,281±$1kHighest about the MN average $1,188±$350Lowest 7% below MN
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 $3,758Highest 12% above MN $1,890Lowest 44% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 57.1%±97.4Highest MN: 48.1% 0%±64.5Lowest 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 4%Lowest MN: 9.3% 6.4%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 97.1%Highest MN: 72.2% 94.6%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1979Lowest same as MN 1994Highest 15 yrs newer than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minHighest 28% above MN 23 minLowest about the MN average
Work from home 15.4%±5.8Highest MN: 17.6% 11.4%±4.1Lowest 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 6.2%Highest 2.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.3 miHighest 11.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.79Highest 0.22Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town St. Cloud (23%)Brainerd (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Sylvan TownshipFew work in Wakefield Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2%Lowest 9%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 4.8 miHighest 3.7 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 4.2Highest 3.7Lowest
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.

Wakefield Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wakefield Township’s Town Square.

Sylvan Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sylvan Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Wakefield Township and Sylvan Township

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Bordering Wakefield Township

Towns like Wakefield 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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