Compare towns
Donnellson vs Basco 128 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (2.2× in Donnellson) and average commute (5 min in Donnellson).
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.
Basco A small town of 59
Quiet strengths Basco doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Basco →
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.
★ What stands out · Monthly cost A typical home costs $590 more a month in Donnellson 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.
Down payment3.5% 10% 20% Rate
Donnellson $880 /mo
Typical home $130K (Zillow) · tax rate est. 1.8% · or rent about $913/mo · Housing →
Basco $290 /mo
Typical home $43K (Census) · tax rate 1.80% · Housing →
The difference: $590 a month , about $7,100 a year , between Donnellson and Basco.
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.
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
Growing season (days) — 191d Outdoors & history
Famous people born here 2 —
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 128 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Donnellson ↔ Basco 128 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.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Population
129 Highest 59 Lowest
Median age
51.5 ±30.6 Highest 32% above IL 48.2 ±31.4 Lowest 24% above IL
Kids under 18
23.3% ±24.2 Highest IL: 21.8% 18.6% ±55.8 Lowest IL: 21.8%
Age 65+
24.8% ±11.4 Highest IL: 17% 20.3% ±49.9 Lowest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
2.3% Lowest IL: 37.8% 10% Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±14.3 IL: 6.3% 0% ±31.2 IL: 6.3%
Household incomemedian
$45,875 ±$12k Highest 45% below IL $40,000 ±$25k Lowest 52% below IL
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$51,700 ±$12k Highest 80% below IL $42,500 ±$38k Lowest 84% below IL
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$913 ±$594 28% below IL —
Property taxmedian, yearly
— $763 86% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0% ±100 IL: 47.9% —
Below poverty line
41.9% Highest IL: 11.8% 16.9% Lowest IL: 11.8%
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.4% Lowest IL: 67.1% 78.1% Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938 33 yrs older than IL 1938 33 yrs older than IL
Average commuteone way
20 min Lowest 28% below IL 25 min Highest 11% below IL
Work from home
12.2% ±15.2 Highest IL: 15.9% 0% ±50 Lowest IL: 15.9%
Work in townworking residents
1.9% Highest 0% Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
36.3 mi Highest 28.8 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.34 Highest 0.23 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Hillsboro (15%) Macomb (14%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Basco Few work in Donnellson
Conserved landshare of the town
0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles
0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
100 Highest 44.6 Lowest
“±” Census margin of error ACS 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.
Donnellson or Basco: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Donnellson? → Moving to Donnellson: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Donnellson’s Town Square.
Basco or Donnellson: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Basco? → Moving to Basco: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Basco’s Town Square.
Add a town Set another town beside Donnellson and Basco One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.
Towns like Donnellson 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.
Copyright © 2026 TownTapestry · The guide for every city and town in America · In loving memory of John Cullinane whose interest in maps and discovering new places was contagious. Share TownTapestry to support usBrowse by state · Privacy · Terms 
