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Webster vs Freeman

138 miles apart. The biggest differences: kids under 18 (+12.3 pts in Freeman) and growth since 2010 (+10.2 pts in Freeman).

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Webster, SDKnown for its schoolsSouth Dakota · 1,896 people
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Freeman, SDHomes around $255KSouth Dakota · 1,565 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.

WebsterKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 80%of SD districts Housing$235K typical home27% below the SD typical home History7 historic places7 places on the National Register All about Webster →
FreemanHomes around $255K
Housing$255K typical home21% below the SD typical home HealthHealthier than 64%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Freeman →
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.

Kids under 18+12.3 pts
Freeman has more kids
Freeman 32.5%Webster 20.2%
Growth since 2010+10.2 pts
Freeman has grown faster since 2010
Freeman +1.8%Webster -8.4%
Work in town+18.7 pts
More of Webster’s workers stay in town
Webster 43.8%Freeman 25.1%
Property tax bill+21%
Tax bills are bigger in Freeman
Freeman $2,030Webster $1,683
Homeowners+8.3 pts renters
Webster has more renters
Freeman 75.1%Webster 66.8%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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.

Schools
A−WebsterBetter than 80% of districts in the state C+FreemanBetter than 42% of districts in the state
Health
BWebsterHealthier than 58% of U.S. towns BFreemanHealthier than 64% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs $160 more a month in Freeman

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.

Webster$1,440/mo
Typical home $235K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.09% · or rent about $653/mo · Housing →
Freeman$1,600/mo
Typical home $255K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.24% · or rent about $741/mo · Housing →

The difference: $160 a month, about $1,900 a year, between Freeman and Webster.

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
WebsterFreeman
Snow a year43″41″
January low2°F—
July high81°F—
Growing season (days)156d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd50th
Outdoors & history
WebsterFreeman
Trails2 mi1 mi
Conserved land0%0%
Settled—1893
National Register places73
Famous people born here—4
Community
WebsterFreeman
Library hours a week28 hrs41 hrs
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

138 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

WebsterSDFreemanSD
Webster ↔ Freeman138 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.

WebsterFreeman
People
Population 1,896Highest 1,565Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -8.4%Lowest SD: +8.9% +1.8%Highest SD: +8.9%
Median age 40.5±2.9Highest 7% above SD 37.8±5.2Lowest about the SD average
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.2%±3.8Lowest SD: 24.2% 32.5%±5.3Highest SD: 24.2%
Age 65+ 20.9%±3.4Highest SD: 18% 20.4%±2.2Lowest SD: 18%
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20.7%Highest SD: 31.9% 19.3%Lowest SD: 31.9%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±2.1Highest SD: 5% 3.3%±1.4Lowest SD: 5%
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $55,179±$7kLowest 27% below SD $57,440±$5kHighest 23% below SD
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $154,100±$34kLowest 40% below SD $164,200±$15kHighest 36% below SD
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $653±$46Lowest 31% below SD $741±$91Highest 22% below SD
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,683Lowest 38% below SD $2,030Highest 25% below SD
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 33.6%±14.4Lowest SD: 39.8% 36.1%±20.2Highest SD: 39.8%
Freeman and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.1%Lowest SD: 11.9% 20.9%Highest SD: 11.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 66.8%Lowest SD: 68.6% 75.1%Highest SD: 68.6%
Typical home builtmedian year 1963Highest 17 yrs older than SD 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than SD
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 19 minHighest 8% above SD 16 minLowest 11% below SD
Work from home 6.7%±6Highest SD: 9.7% 3.5%±2.8Lowest SD: 9.7%
Webster and Freeman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 43.8%Highest 25.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 1.3 miLowest 11.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.04Lowest 1.28Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Webster Township (9%)Sioux Falls (15%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FreemanFew work in Webster
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 1.6 miHighest 1.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.0 miHighest 0.9 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 80.6Highest 69.8Lowest
Schools
School district Webster Area School District 18-5Freeman School District 33-1
High school in town Webster Area High School - 01Freeman High School - 01
Students per teacherat that high school 13.6Highest 9.3Lowest
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.

Webster neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Webster’s Town Square.

Freeman neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freeman’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Webster and Freeman

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Webster

+ Compare
Webster Township280 people · $241K homes
R
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Rusk Township65 people · $260K homes

Towns like Webster

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Gregory1,379 people · $115K homes
M
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Miller1,363 people · $155K homes
P
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Parkston1,874 people · $157K homes
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Canton3,033 people · $191K 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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