What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).

Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belvidere	Carroll
People
Population	422Lowest	659Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.	62.4±4.8Highest 60% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	39.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Carroll and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average	$64,821±$26kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S.	$261,500±$42kHighest 21% below U.S.
	Carroll and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S.	$1,078±$241Lowest 24% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Highest 25% above U.S.	$3,356Lowest 8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	28%±47.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belvidere and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5% U.S.: 12.5%	5.5% U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Belvidere and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.