I think they’re probably pretty even academically. Two are top-ten LACs and the other laughs at the US News rankings but is (I think) generally considered to be a top-25 (at least) LAC. The important thing to note is not the ranking itself, but what it confirms: these are all quality schools.
Anyway -
Everyone knows about the mountains and trees of the Pacific Northwest, but everyone might not know about the upper Midwest.
The outdoors appeal in Wisconsin and Minnesota is centered around lakes: the two states combined have some 30,000 of them. Most are picturesque and fun to play in and around (most are located in the woods…).
If you are interested in fishing, camping, and water-skiing in the summer and snowmobiling or perhaps ice-fishing in the winter, Northfield would provide those types of outdoor opportunities.
Northfield also is not terribly far from Canada, the Great Lakes, and the headwaters of the Mississippi River (and the downstream river itself…).