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Downs Township vs Randolph Township

Next-door neighbors in McLean County. The biggest differences: trails (2.8× in Randolph Township) and jobs per worker (2.7× in Downs Township).

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Downs Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsMcLean County · 1,275 people
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Randolph Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsMcLean County · 4,303 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.

Downs TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 88%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 84%of IL districts All about Downs Township →
Randolph TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 87%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#122 for schools in ILof 384 towns All about Randolph Township →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails2.8×
Randolph Township has more miles of trail
Randolph Township 3.7 miDowns Township 1.3 mi
Jobs per worker2.7×
Downs Township is more of a job hub
Downs Township 0.59Randolph Township 0.22
Size3.4×
Randolph Township is the bigger place
Randolph Township 4,303Downs Township 1,275
Growth since 2010+9.1 pts
Downs Township has grown faster since 2010
Downs Township +6.3%Randolph Township -2.8%
Street grid+84%
Randolph Township has the more walkable street grid
Randolph Township 4.6Downs Township 2.5
Bachelor’s degree++14.1 pts
More adults in Downs Township have a degree
Downs Township 47.8%Randolph Township 33.7%
★ What stands out · 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.

Schools
A−Downs TownshipBetter than 84% of districts in the state B+Randolph TownshipBetter than 66% of districts in the state
Health
ADowns TownshipHealthier than 88% of U.S. towns ARandolph TownshipHealthier than 87% of U.S. towns
Where they are

Downs Township and Randolph Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Downs TownshipRandolph TownshipDowns TownshipRandolph Township
Downs Township ↔ Randolph Township5.7 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Downs Township$1,620/mo
Typical home $229K (Census) · tax rate 2.19% · or rent about $1,308/mo · Housing →
Randolph Township$1,530/mo
Typical home $218K (Census) · tax rate 2.16% · or rent about $914/mo · Housing →

The difference: $90 a month, about $1,000 a year, between Downs Township and Randolph Township.

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
Downs TownshipRandolph Township
Snow a year7″7″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th58th
Outdoors & history
Downs TownshipRandolph Township
Trails1 mi4 mi
Conserved land0%0.2%
Settled1870—
Community
Downs TownshipRandolph Township
Library hours a week—52 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.

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.

Downs TownshipRandolph Township
People
Population 1,275Lowest 4,303Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +6.3%Highest -2.8%Lowest
Median age 37.3±8.9Lowest 4% below IL 37.4±5.8Highest 4% below IL
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.3%±6Lowest IL: 21.8% 32.1%±5Highest IL: 21.8%
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16.9%±4.9Highest IL: 17% 14.9%±3.4Lowest IL: 17%
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 47.8%Highest IL: 37.8% 33.7%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±1.8Highest IL: 6.3% 2.2%±1.2Lowest IL: 6.3%
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $92,083±$29kLowest 10% above IL $110,439±$9kHighest 32% above IL
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $229,100±$26kHighest 13% below IL $217,600±$15kLowest 17% below IL
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,308±$186Highest about the IL average $914±$262Lowest 28% below IL
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,018Highest 5% below IL $4,707Lowest 11% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.4%±58.3Highest IL: 47.9% 11.8%±13.5Lowest IL: 47.9%
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 7.5%Highest IL: 11.8% 6.9%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 90.4%Highest IL: 67.1% 86.2%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1979Highest 8 yrs newer than IL 1977Lowest 6 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 24% below IL 22 minHighest 21% below IL
Work from home 15.7%±5.8Lowest IL: 15.9% 16.3%±7.6Highest IL: 15.9%
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 3.8%Lowest 8.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miLowest 11.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.59Highest 0.22Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Bloomington (50%)Bloomington (44%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Randolph TownshipFew work in Downs Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.3 miLowest 3.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.5Lowest 4.6Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#122 of 384 in IL
School district Tri Valley CUSD 3Heyworth CUSD 4
High school in town Tri-Valley High SchoolHeyworth Jr-Sr High School
Students per teacherat that high school 13.4Lowest 14.5Highest
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.

Downs Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Downs Township’s Town Square.

Randolph Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Randolph Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Downs Township

W
+ Compare
Wilson Township127 people · $409K homes
O
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Old Town Township3,421 people · $346K homes
E
+ Compare
Empire Township3,993 people · $175K homes
+ Compare
Downs1,641 people · $241K homes

Towns like Downs Township

C
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Cruger Township1,906 people · $254K homes
D
+ Compare
Dale Township1,345 people · $233K homes
+ Compare
Seward Township894 people · $216K homes
H
+ Compare
Hudson1,918 people · $225K 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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