Compare towns
Austin Township vs Keith Township 103 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (4.1× in Austin Township) and street grid (2.7× in Keith Township).
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.
Austin Township A small town of 153
Quiet strengths Austin Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Austin Township →
Keith Township A small town of 302
Quiet strengths Keith Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Keith Township →
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.
★ What stands out · Monthly cost A typical home costs $1,180 more a month in Austin 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.
Down payment3.5% 10% 20% Rate
Austin Township $1,740 /mo
Typical home $248K (Census) · tax rate 2.11% · Housing →
Keith Township $550 /mo
Typical home $86K (Census) · tax rate 1.48% · Housing →
The difference: $1,180 a month , about $14,200 a year , between Austin Township and Keith 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.
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
Outdoors & history
Famous people born here 1 — Community
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 103 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Austin Township ↔ Keith Township 103 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.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Population
153 Lowest 302 Highest
Median age
38.8 ±38.4 Highest about the IL average 33.8 ±21.4 Lowest 13% below IL
Kids under 18
32% ±29.5 Highest IL: 21.8% 27.8% ±22.8 Lowest IL: 21.8%
Age 65+
15.7% ±28.8 Highest IL: 17% 9.6% ±13.2 Lowest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7% Lowest IL: 37.8% 65% Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±12 IL: 6.3% 0% ±6.1 IL: 6.3%
Household incomemedian
$156,250 ±$82k Highest 87% above IL $66,277 ±$18k Lowest 21% below IL
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$248,100 ±$227k Highest 6% below IL $85,600 ±$33k Lowest 67% below IL
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,240 Highest about the IL average $1,268 Lowest 76% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
— 0% ±96.3 IL: 47.9%
Below poverty line
8.5% Highest IL: 11.8% 3.3% Lowest IL: 11.8%
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.6% Lowest IL: 67.1% 80.1% Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967 Lowest 4 yrs older than IL 1994 Highest 23 yrs newer than IL
Average commuteone way
31 min Highest 10% above IL 27 min Lowest 4% below IL
Work from home
0% ±16.3 IL: 15.9% 0% ±9.7 IL: 15.9%
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
14.8 mi Lowest 26.3 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.32 Highest 0.17 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Decatur (50%) Fairfield (20%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Keith Township Few work in Austin Township
Conserved landshare of the town
0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles
0.0 mi Lowest 5.9 mi Highest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.0 mi Lowest 0.2 mi Highest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
1.1 Lowest 3.0 Highest
“±” Census margin of error ACS 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.
Austin Township or Keith Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Austin Township? → Moving to Austin Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Austin Township’s Town Square.
T Weaver · 1w
Getting to Know Keith Keith Township or Austin Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Keith Township? → Moving to Keith Township: what should I know? →
1 neighbor in Keith Township can answer.
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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