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−Florence TownshipBetter than 80% of districts in the state C−Jackson TownshipBetter than 24% of districts in the state

Health

CFlorence TownshipHealthier than 29% of U.S. towns B−Jackson TownshipHealthier than 53% of U.S. towns

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $170 more a month in Florence Township

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 paymentRate%

Florence Township$2,020/mo

Typical home $293K (Census) · tax rate 1.99% · Housing →

Jackson Township$1,850/mo

Typical home $272K (Census) · tax rate 1.87% · or rent about $1,481/mo · Housing →

The difference: $170 a month, about $2,100 a year, between Florence Township and Jackson 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.

Where they are

Florence Township and Jackson Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Florence TownshipJackson Township

Florence Township ↔ Jackson Township5.7 miles apart · They share a border · Same county

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

Florence TownshipJackson Township

Snow a year17″17″

January low17°F 17°F

July high84°F 84°F

Growing season (days)188d 188d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)10th 39th

Outdoors & history

Florence TownshipJackson Township

Trails3 mi 9 mi

Conserved land45.9%25%

Archive photos—3

Famous people born here1 —

Community

Florence TownshipJackson Township

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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.

Only big differences vs Illinois average

Florence TownshipJackson Township

People

Population 888Lowest 3,875Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.2%Highest -4.9%Lowest

Median age 40.2±2.3Lowest 3% above IL 44.5±5.2Highest 14% above IL

Jackson Township and Florence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 16.8%±7.9Lowest IL: 21.8% 17.4%±3.4Highest IL: 21.8%

Jackson Township and Florence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 16.1%±3.3Lowest IL: 17% 17.7%±3.1Highest IL: 17%

Jackson Township and Florence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.7%Highest IL: 37.8% 20%Lowest IL: 37.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.7%±1.6Lowest IL: 6.3% 2.2%±1.3Highest IL: 6.3%

Jackson Township and Florence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $111,935±$6kHighest 34% above IL $104,292±$21kLowest 25% above IL

Florence Township and Jackson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $292,600±$44kHighest 11% above IL $271,500±$15kLowest 3% above IL

Florence Township and Jackson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly — $1,481±$814 16% above IL

Property taxmedian, yearly $5,811Highest 10% above IL $5,079Lowest 4% below IL

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 11.1%±100Lowest IL: 47.9% 24.2%±25.6Highest IL: 47.9%

Jackson Township and Florence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 2.1%Lowest IL: 11.8% 4.7%Highest IL: 11.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 97%Highest IL: 67.1% 86.1%Lowest IL: 67.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1992Highest 21 yrs newer than IL 1990Lowest 19 yrs newer than IL

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 37 minHighest 32% above IL 30 minLowest 8% above IL

Work from home 3.2%±4.6Lowest IL: 15.9% 9.4%±4.2Highest IL: 15.9%

Jackson Township and Florence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 1.7%Lowest 4.5%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miHighest 19.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.82Lowest 2.00Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Chicago (8%)Joliet (16%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Jackson TownshipFew work in Florence Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 45.9%Highest 25%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 2.6 miLowest 9.2 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.3 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2 2

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.8Lowest 7.4Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#33 of 384 in IL

School district S Will Co Coop for Spec Ed · Wilmington CUSD 209UElwood CCSD 203

High school in town Wilmington High SchoolNone in town

Students per teacherat that high school 14.6 —

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.

Florence Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Florence Township’s Town Square.

Jackson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Florence Township and Jackson Township

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Bordering Florence Township

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Wilmington Township5,915 people · $219K homes

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Wilton Township1,055 people · $416K homes

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Wilmington5,494 people · $224K homes

Towns like Florence Township

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Shafter Township753 people · $291K homes

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Fall River Township900 people · $243K homes

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Garden Plain Township1,161 people · $199K homes

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Limestone1,419 people · $212K 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.

Florence Township vs Jackson Township

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Grades and rankings, side by side

A typical home costs $170 more a month in Florence Township

Florence Township and Jackson Township share a border

What daily life feels like in each

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Florence Township and Jackson Township

Bordering Florence Township

Towns like Florence Township

Post to Florence Township

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