What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).

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	Jackson
People
Population	422Lowest	1,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.3% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.	56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.6%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%
	Jackson 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	$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$239,200±$51kHighest 28% below U.S.	$235,400±$40kLowest 29% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Jackson 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.	$1,139±$43Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.	$4,165Highest 34% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±53.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jackson and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.	34 minLowest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.1%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jackson and Belvidere 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.