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Florence Township vs Shafter Township

170 miles apart. The biggest differences: conserved land (+45.3 pts in Florence Township) and property tax bill (+82% in Florence Township).

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Florence Township, ILAn outdoors townWill County · 888 people
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Shafter Township, ILA regional job hubFayette County · 753 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.

Florence TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors45.9% conserved land2.6 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 80%of IL districts Health71% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Florence Township →
Shafter TownshipA regional job hub
Work371 jobsbased in Shafter Township, a regional job hub All about Shafter 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.

Conserved land+45.3 pts
Florence Township has more conserved land
Florence Township 45.9%Shafter Township 0.6%
Property tax bill+82%
Tax bills are bigger in Florence Township
Florence Township $5,811Shafter Township $3,196
Average commute13 min
Shafter Township has the shorter commute
Florence Township 37 minShafter Township 24 min
Jobs per worker2.4×
Shafter Township is more of a job hub
Shafter Township 1.98Florence Township 0.82
Street grid+67%
Shafter Township has the more walkable street grid
Shafter Township 3.0Florence Township 1.8
Trails+73%
Florence Township has more miles of trail
Florence Township 2.6 miShafter Township 1.5 mi
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $220 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.

Florence Township$2,020/mo
Typical home $293K (Census) · tax rate 1.99% · Housing →
Shafter Township$1,790/mo
Typical home $291K (Census) · tax rate 1.10% · Housing →

The difference: $220 a month, about $2,700 a year, between Florence Township and Shafter 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
A−Florence TownshipBetter than 80% of districts in the state –Shafter TownshipNot graded
Health
CFlorence TownshipHealthier than 29% of U.S. towns –Shafter TownshipNot graded
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 TownshipShafter Township
Snow a year17″13″
January low17°F19°F
July high84°F85°F
Growing season (days)188d185d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)10th65th
Outdoors & history
Florence TownshipShafter Township
Trails3 mi2 mi
Conserved land45.9%0.6%
Famous people born here11
Community
Florence TownshipShafter Township
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

170 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Florence TownshipWill CountyShafter TownshipFayette County
Florence Township ↔ Shafter Township170 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.

Florence TownshipShafter Township
People
Population 888Highest 753Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.2% —
Median age 40.2±2.3Lowest 3% above IL 42±8.3Highest 8% above IL
Shafter 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% 25.9%±6.7Highest IL: 21.8%
Shafter 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% 20.3%±1.5Highest IL: 17%
Shafter 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% 19.8%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.7%±1.6Highest IL: 6.3% 0%±2.4Lowest IL: 6.3%
Florence Township and Shafter 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 $93,125±$76kLowest 12% above IL
Florence Township and Shafter 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 $291,300±$149kLowest 11% above IL
Florence Township and Shafter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $5,811Highest 10% above IL $3,196Lowest 40% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 11.1%±100 IL: 47.9% —
Below poverty line 2.1%Lowest IL: 11.8% 6.9%Highest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 97%Highest IL: 67.1% 95%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1992Lowest 21 yrs newer than IL 1996Highest 25 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 37 minHighest 32% above IL 24 minLowest 14% below IL
Work from home 3.2%±4.6Lowest IL: 15.9% 17.6%±18Highest IL: 15.9%
Shafter 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%Highest 1.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miLowest 31.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.82Lowest 1.98Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Chicago (8%)Vandalia (26%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Shafter TownshipFew work in Florence Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 45.9%Highest 0.6%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.6 miHighest 1.5 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.8Lowest 3.0Highest
Schools
School district S Will Co Coop for Spec Ed · Wilmington CUSD 209U—
High school in town Wilmington High School—
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.

Shafter Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Shafter Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Florence Township

+ Compare
Wilmington Township5,915 people · $219K homes
J
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Jackson Township3,875 people · $272K homes
W
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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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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
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Dillon Township1,055 people · $257K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Illinois towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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