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Compare towns

Elk Township vs Reading Township

219 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.2× in Reading Township) and rent (+57% in Reading Township).

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Elk Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsJackson County · 1,444 people
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Reading Township, ILA regional job hubLivingston County · 1,722 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.

Elk TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health81% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Elk Township →
Reading TownshipA regional job hub
Work1,202 jobsbased in Reading Township, a regional job hub Health73% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 30%of IL districts All about Reading 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.

Jobs per worker7.2×
Reading Township is more of a job hub
Reading Township 1.52Elk Township 0.21
Rent+57%
Rent runs higher in Reading Township
Reading Township $1,156Elk Township $738
Trails2.6×
Elk Township has more miles of trail
Elk Township 5.9 miReading Township 2.3 mi
Property tax bill+44%
Tax bills are bigger in Reading Township
Reading Township $1,202Elk Township $833
Growth since 2010+7.3 pts
Reading Township has grown faster since 2010
Reading Township -1.1%Elk Township -8.4%
Work in town+10.2 pts
More of Reading Township’s workers stay in town
Reading Township 13%Elk Township 2.8%
★ What stands out · 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.

Elk Township$470/mo
Typical home $77K (Census) · tax rate 1.08% · or rent about $738/mo · Housing →
Reading Township$560/mo
Typical home $87K (Census) · tax rate 1.38% · or rent about $1,156/mo · Housing →

The difference: $80 a month, about $1,000 a year, between Reading Township and Elk 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.

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
B−Elk TownshipBetter than 48% of districts in the state CReading TownshipBetter than 30% of districts in the state
Health
C−Elk TownshipHealthier than 19% of U.S. towns CReading TownshipHealthier than 27% of U.S. towns
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
Elk TownshipReading Township
Snow a year12″26″
January low24°F16°F
July high87°F88°F
Growing season (days)199d199d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th71st
Outdoors & history
Elk TownshipReading Township
Trails6 mi2 mi
Conserved land4.6%0.1%
Archive photos—1
Community
Elk TownshipReading Township
Library hours a week35 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.

Where they are

219 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Elk TownshipJackson CountyReading TownshipLivingston County
Elk Township ↔ Reading Township219 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.

Elk TownshipReading Township
People
Population 1,444Lowest 1,722Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -8.4%Lowest -1.1%Highest
Median age 44.4±6Lowest 14% above IL 45±10.4Highest 15% above IL
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.2%±3.5Highest IL: 21.8% 17.7%±6.2Lowest IL: 21.8%
Elk Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 26.4%±3.4Lowest IL: 17% 32.1%±6.3Highest IL: 17%
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.1%Highest IL: 37.8% 11.7%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.7%±1.4Highest IL: 6.3% 1.8%±1.8Lowest IL: 6.3%
Elk Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $46,940±$7kLowest 44% below IL $54,259±$14kHighest 35% below IL
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $76,900±$13kLowest 71% below IL $87,100±$27kHighest 67% below IL
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $738±$213Lowest 42% below IL $1,156±$85Highest 9% below IL
Property taxmedian, yearly $833Lowest 84% below IL $1,202Highest 77% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 53.3%±18Highest IL: 47.9% 49.4%±34.6Lowest IL: 47.9%
Elk Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 18.8%Highest IL: 11.8% 16.6%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 75.8%Lowest IL: 67.1% 79.6%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1968Highest 3 yrs older than IL 1958Lowest 13 yrs older than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest about the IL average 27 minLowest about the IL average
Work from home 5.5%±3.9Lowest IL: 15.9% 5.6%±3.2Highest IL: 15.9%
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.8%Lowest 13%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 14.3 miLowest 18.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.21Lowest 1.52Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Carbondale (22%)Streator (24%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Reading TownshipFew work in Elk Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.6%Highest 0.1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 5.9 miHighest 2.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 5.7Highest 3.8Lowest
Schools
School district Elverado CUSD 196Woodland CUSD 5
High school in town Elverado High SchoolWoodland High School
Students per teacherat that high school 8.5Lowest 11.0Highest
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.

Elk Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elk Township’s Town Square.

Reading Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Reading Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Elk Township

D
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De Soto Township2,615 people · $101K homes
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Six Mile Township3,496 people · $77K homes
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Vergennes Township770 people · $113K homes

Towns like Elk Township

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Sheldon Township1,285 people · $83K homes
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Carrier Mills1,634 people · $60K homes
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Marissa1,232 people · $100K homes
O
+ Compare
Oakwood1,380 people · $103K 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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