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Compare towns

Avena Township vs Reading Township

140 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+54% in Reading Township) and trails (2.3× in Avena Township).

A ×
Avena Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsFayette County · 1,888 people
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Reading Township, ILA regional job hubLivingston County · 1,722 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.

Avena TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health83% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 22%of IL districts All about Avena Township →
Reading TownshipA regional job hub
Work1,202 jobsbased in Reading Township, a regional job hub Health73% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 30%of IL districts All about Reading Township →
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.

Rent+54%
Rent runs higher in Reading Township
Reading Township $1,156Avena Township $749
Trails2.3×
Avena Township has more miles of trail
Avena Township 5.2 miReading Township 2.3 mi
Age 65++11.8 pts
Reading Township has more people 65 and up
Reading Township 32.1%Avena Township 20.3%
Average commute6 min
Avena Township has the shorter commute
Reading Township 27 minAvena Township 21 min
Growth since 2010+4.5 pts
Reading Township has grown faster since 2010
Reading Township -1.1%Avena Township -5.6%
Jobs per worker+54%
Reading Township is more of a job hub
Reading Township 1.52Avena Township 0.99
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Avena Township$620/mo
Typical home $96K (Census) · tax rate 1.40% · or rent about $749/mo · Housing →
Reading Township$560/mo
Typical home $87K (Census) · tax rate 1.38% · or rent about $1,156/mo · Housing →

The difference: $60 a month, about $700 a year, between Avena Township and Reading 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

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Illinois ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
C−Avena TownshipBetter than 22% of districts in the state CReading TownshipBetter than 30% of districts in the state
Health
C−Avena TownshipHealthier than 17% of U.S. towns CReading TownshipHealthier than 27% of U.S. towns
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
Avena TownshipReading Township
Snow a year16″26″
January low—16°F
July high—88°F
Growing season (days)—199d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)60th71st
Outdoors & history
Avena TownshipReading Township
Trails5 mi2 mi
Conserved land0%0.1%
Archive photos—1
Community
Avena TownshipReading Township
Library hours a week29 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

140 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Avena TownshipFayette CountyReading TownshipLivingston County
Avena Township ↔ Reading Township140 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.

Avena TownshipReading Township
People
Population 1,888Highest 1,722Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.6%Lowest -1.1%Highest
Median age 42.3±5.9Lowest 8% above IL 45±10.4Highest 15% above IL
Reading Township and Avena Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.4%±3.5Highest IL: 21.8% 17.7%±6.2Lowest IL: 21.8%
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 20.3%±3.9Lowest IL: 17% 32.1%±6.3Highest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.5%Highest IL: 37.8% 11.7%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.1%±2.1Highest IL: 6.3% 1.8%±1.8Lowest IL: 6.3%
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $51,023±$13kLowest 39% below IL $54,259±$14kHighest 35% below IL
Reading Township and Avena Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $96,000±$18kHighest 64% below IL $87,100±$27kLowest 67% below IL
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $749±$30Lowest 41% below IL $1,156±$85Highest 9% below IL
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,345Highest 75% below IL $1,202Lowest 77% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 30.1%±35.9Lowest IL: 47.9% 49.4%±34.6Highest IL: 47.9%
Reading Township and Avena Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 20%Highest IL: 11.8% 16.6%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.2%Highest IL: 67.1% 79.6%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1967Highest 4 yrs older than IL 1958Lowest 13 yrs older than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 23% below IL 27 minHighest about the IL average
Work from home 13.6%±5.8Highest IL: 15.9% 5.6%±3.2Lowest IL: 15.9%
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 12.9%Lowest 13%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.3 miHighest 18.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.99Lowest 1.52Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Effingham (16%)Streator (24%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Reading TownshipFew work in Avena Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 5.2 miHighest 2.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 5.0Highest 3.8Lowest
Schools
School district St Elmo CUSD 202Woodland CUSD 5
High school in town St Elmo Sr High SchoolWoodland High School
Students per teacherat that high school 12.8Highest 11.0Lowest
Illinois 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.

Avena Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Avena Township’s Town Square.

Reading Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Reading Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Avena Township

L
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Loudon Township947 people · $186K homes
W
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Wheatland Township405 people · $275K homes
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Sefton Township420 people · $135K homes
M
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Mound Township3,532 people · $135K homes

Towns like Avena Township

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Carrier Mills Township2,507 people · $81K homes
M
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Marissa Township1,835 people · $113K homes
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New Athens1,933 people · $116K homes
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Lamotte Township2,010 people · $92K 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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