What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).

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	Jefferson
People
Population	422Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jefferson 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	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Jefferson 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.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson 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.	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Jefferson 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.	$4,196Highest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belvidere and Jefferson 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%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Lowest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.	35 minLowest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	9.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson 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.