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Compare towns

Bartlett vs Oswego

21 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+14.1 pts in Oswego) and conserved land (+9.4 pts in Bartlett).

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Bartlett, ILAn outdoors townIllinois · 40,501 people
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Oswego, ILHomes around $423KIllinois · 36,375 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.

BartlettAn outdoors town
Outdoors#47 most conserved land in IL7.0 miles of trails across 32 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 94%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SafetySafer than 92%of U.S. towns we grade All about Bartlett →
OswegoHomes around $423K
Housing$423K typical home42% above the IL typical home Outdoors#201 most conserved land in IL8.6 miles of trails across 40 parks and preserves HealthHealthier than 85%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Oswego →
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.

Growth since 2010+14.1 pts
Oswego has grown faster since 2010
Oswego +13.9%Bartlett -0.2%
Conserved land+9.4 pts
Bartlett has more conserved land
Bartlett 17.2%Oswego 7.8%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $150 more a month in Bartlett

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.

Bartlett$3,220/mo
Typical home $443K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.43% · or rent about $1,883/mo · Housing →
Oswego$3,070/mo
Typical home $423K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.42% · or rent about $1,860/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,900 a year, between Bartlett and Oswego.

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.

Safety
ABartlettSafer than 92% of U.S. towns A−OswegoSafer than 84% of U.S. towns
Health
ABartlettHealthier than 94% of U.S. towns A−OswegoHealthier than 85% of U.S. towns
10Bartlett
10Oswego

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Highest graduation rateSchools · 669 towns #497#18 Lowest obesityHealth · 861 towns #41#576 Fastest growingGrowth · 859 towns #394#41 Most new homesHousing · 431 towns #144#8 Lowest depressionHealth · 861 towns #42#213 Most conserved landOutdoors · 838 towns #47#201 HealthiestHealth · 861 towns #76#198 SafestSafety · 321 towns #30#71

Left end = #1 in Illinois. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Bartlett’s rankings →

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
BartlettOswego
Snow a year46″28″
January low—16°F
July high—84°F
Growing season (days)—185d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)29th38th
Outdoors & history
BartlettOswego
Trails7 mi9 mi
Conserved land17.2%7.8%
Settled18911833
National Register places—1
Archive photos2418
Famous people born here67
Community
BartlettOswego
Library hours a week68 hrs67 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

21 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BartlettOswegoBartlettOswego
Bartlett ↔ Oswego21 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.

BartlettOswego
People
Population 40,501Highest 36,375Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.2%Lowest +13.9%Highest
Median age 41±0.8Highest 5% above IL 38.7±1.3Lowest about the IL average
Kids under 18 23.2%±2Lowest IL: 21.8% 26.3%±2.5Highest IL: 21.8%
Oswego and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 15.9%±1.4Highest IL: 17% 11%±1.3Lowest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 49.5%Highest IL: 37.8% 44.3%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.7%±0.7Lowest IL: 6.3% 5.4%±1.1Highest IL: 6.3%
Oswego and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $133,240±$6kHighest 60% above IL $123,792±$6kLowest 48% above IL
Bartlett and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $375,700±$10kHighest 43% above IL $344,500±$8kLowest 31% above IL
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,883±$226Highest 48% above IL $1,860±$184Lowest 46% above IL
Bartlett and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $9,136Highest 72% above IL $8,330Lowest 57% above IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 50.9%±12.7Lowest IL: 47.9% 71.8%±14Highest IL: 47.9%
Oswego and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 4.2%Highest IL: 11.8% 2.6%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 89.2%Highest IL: 67.1% 87.9%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1992Lowest 21 yrs newer than IL 2002Highest 31 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minLowest 7% above IL 32 minHighest 13% above IL
Work from home 20.5%±2.8Highest IL: 15.9% 17.5%±2.9Lowest IL: 15.9%
Bartlett and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.8%Lowest 7.8%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.8 miLowest 18.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.40Lowest 0.55Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Chicago (15%)Chicago (15%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in OswegoFew work in Bartlett
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 17.2%Highest 7.8%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 7.0 miLowest 8.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 0.5 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 32Lowest 40Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 72.1Lowest 72.8Highest
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.

Bartlett neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bartlett’s Town Square.

Oswego neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Oswego’s Town Square.

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Bordering Bartlett

S
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Streamwood39,001 people · $271K homes
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Elgin114,934 people · $273K homes
H
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Hanover Park36,732 people · $274K homes
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South Elgin24,217 people · $339K homes

Towns like Bartlett

H
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Homer Township40,989 people · $410K homes
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Algonquin30,067 people · $351K homes
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Wayne Township63,881 people · $371K homes
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+ Compare
Grafton Township56,996 people · $362K 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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