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Wilson Township vs Pine River

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: street grid (31.7× in Pine River) and rent (+85% in Wilson Township).

W ×
Wilson Township, MNOne of the healthiest townsCass County · 542 people
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Pine River, MNA regional job hubMinnesota · 906 people
Swap order
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.

Wilson TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 70%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Wilson Township →
Pine RiverA regional job hub
Work729 jobsbased in Pine River, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 30%of MN districts Housing$264K typical home25% below the MN typical home All about Pine River →
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.

Street grid31.7×
Pine River has the more walkable street grid
Pine River 63.3Wilson Township 2.0
Rent+85%
Rent runs higher in Wilson Township
Wilson Township $1,292Pine River $700
Homeowners+43.5 pts renters
Pine River has more renters
Wilson Township 92.1%Pine River 48.6%
Jobs per worker3.2×
Pine River is more of a job hub
Pine River 2.14Wilson Township 0.66
Property tax bill+52%
Tax bills are bigger in Pine River
Pine River $1,644Wilson Township $1,082
Growth since 2010+6.9 pts
Wilson Township has grown faster since 2010
Wilson Township +3.4%Pine River -3.5%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $330 more a month in Pine River

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.

Wilson Township$1,260/mo
Typical home $223K (Census) · tax rate 0.48% · or rent about $1,292/mo · Housing →
Pine River$1,590/mo
Typical home $264K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.91% · or rent about $700/mo · Housing →

The difference: $330 a month, about $3,900 a year, between Pine River and Wilson 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

Wilson Township and Pine River share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

Wilson TownshipPine RiverWilson TownshipPine River
Wilson Township ↔ Pine River2.6 miles apart · They share a border
Who commutes between them
30 Wilson Township residents work in Pine River (10.7% of its workers)
11 Pine River residents work in Wilson Township (3.2% of its workers)
Work & commute in Wilson Township →
Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

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.

Schools
–Wilson TownshipNot graded CPine RiverBetter than 30% of districts in the state
Health
B+Wilson TownshipHealthier than 70% of U.S. towns –Pine RiverNot graded
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
Wilson TownshipPine River
Snow a year39″39″
January low-1°F-1°F
July high80°F80°F
Growing season (days)152d152d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)43rd43rd
Outdoors & history
Wilson TownshipPine River
Trails4 mi—
Conserved land1.8%—
National Register places—1
Archive photos—7
Famous people born here—1
Community
Wilson TownshipPine River
Library hours a week—31 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.

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.

Wilson TownshipPine River
People
Population 542Lowest 906Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +3.4%Highest MN: +7.6% -3.5%Lowest MN: +7.6%
Median age 52.6±11.5Highest 36% above MN 38.8±6.6Lowest about the MN average
Wilson Township and Pine River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.3%±5.8Lowest MN: 22.9% 26.3%±3Highest MN: 22.9%
Pine River and Wilson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 26%±0.3Highest MN: 17.3% 23.5%±5.3Lowest MN: 17.3%
Wilson Township and Pine River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.6%Highest MN: 39.4% 15.2%Lowest MN: 39.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.5%±1.5Lowest MN: 5.8% 2.8%±2.1Highest MN: 5.8%
Pine River and Wilson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $51,518±$8kHighest 42% below MN $43,080±$4kLowest 52% below MN
Wilson Township and Pine River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $223,100±$22kHighest 32% below MN $180,400±$21kLowest 45% below MN
Wilson Township and Pine River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,292±$130Highest about the MN average $700±$77Lowest 45% below MN
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,082Lowest 68% below MN $1,644Highest 51% below MN
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 86.7%±94.5Highest MN: 48.1% 38.5%±12.7Lowest MN: 48.1%
Wilson Township and Pine River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.5%Lowest MN: 9.3% 29.1%Highest MN: 9.3%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 92.1%Highest MN: 72.2% 48.6%Lowest MN: 72.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than MN 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than MN
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 13% below MN 20 minHighest 10% below MN
Work from home 12.3%±8.4Highest MN: 17.6% 8.1%±4.5Lowest MN: 17.6%
Wilson Township and Pine River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 3.2%Lowest 11.1%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miLowest 23.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.66Lowest 2.14Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Pine River (11%)Brainerd (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 11% work in Pine River3% work in Wilson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.8%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 4.3 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.0Lowest 63.3Highest
Schools
School district —PINE RIVER-BACKUS SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town —Pine River-Backus High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 14.3
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.

Wilson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wilson Township’s Town Square.

Pine River neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Pine River’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Wilson Township and Pine River

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Bordering Wilson Township

+ Compare
Jenkins508 people · $275K homes
+ Compare
Jenkins Township572 people · $384K homes
W
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Walden Township432 people · $208K homes
B
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Barclay Township569 people · $255K homes

Towns like Wilson Township

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Hines Township616 people · $239K homes
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Isle Harbor Township545 people · $263K homes
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La Prairie592 people · $213K homes
+ Compare
Deer River Township610 people · $219K 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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