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Harlem Township vs Buckeye Township

Next-door neighbors in Stephenson County. The biggest differences: median age (9.6 yrs in Harlem Township) and jobs per worker (2.1× in Harlem Township).

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Harlem Township, ILAn outdoors townStephenson County · 1,993 people
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Buckeye Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsStephenson County · 1,242 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.

Harlem TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors#42 most trails in IL7.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves Health74% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Harlem Township →
Buckeye TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Buckeye Township →
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.

Median age9.6 yrs
Harlem Township skews older
Harlem Township 57.8Buckeye Township 48.2
Jobs per worker2.1×
Harlem Township is more of a job hub
Harlem Township 0.33Buckeye Township 0.16
Property tax bill+27%
Tax bills are bigger in Harlem Township
Harlem Township $4,432Buckeye Township $3,488
Typical home built14 yrs
Buckeye Township’s homes are older
Harlem Township 1974Buckeye Township 1960
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $170 more a month in Harlem 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.

Harlem Township$1,280/mo
Typical home $173K (Census) · tax rate 2.56% · or rent about $891/mo · Housing →
Buckeye Township$1,100/mo
Typical home $155K (Census) · tax rate 2.25% · or rent about $775/mo · Housing →

The difference: $170 a month, about $2,100 a year, between Harlem Township and Buckeye 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

Harlem Township and Buckeye Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Harlem TownshipBuckeye TownshipHarlem TownshipBuckeye Township
Harlem Township ↔ Buckeye Township6.7 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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.

Health
CHarlem TownshipHealthier than 26% of U.S. towns C+Buckeye TownshipHealthier than 37% 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
Harlem TownshipBuckeye Township
Snow a year35″35″
January low11°F11°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)169d169d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)36th32nd
Outdoors & history
Harlem TownshipBuckeye Township
Trails7 mi7 mi
Conserved land1.4%0.7%
National Register places22
Community
Harlem TownshipBuckeye 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.

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.

Harlem TownshipBuckeye Township
People
Population 1,993Highest 1,242Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -11.5%Highest -12.1%Lowest
Median age 57.8±2.6Highest 48% above IL 48.2±4.1Lowest 24% above IL
Kids under 18 11.4%±3Lowest IL: 21.8% 17.9%±4.6Highest IL: 21.8%
Buckeye Township and Harlem Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 34.9%±6.4Highest IL: 17% 29.5%±4.9Lowest IL: 17%
Harlem Township and Buckeye Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 17%Lowest IL: 37.8% 24.2%Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.7%±1.8Lowest IL: 6.3% 2.7%±2Highest IL: 6.3%
Buckeye Township and Harlem Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $95,000±$17kHighest 14% above IL $76,094±$8kLowest 9% below IL
Harlem Township and Buckeye Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $173,000±$17kHighest 34% below IL $155,300±$21kLowest 41% below IL
Harlem Township and Buckeye Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $891±$752Highest 30% below IL $775±$170Lowest 39% below IL
Harlem Township and Buckeye Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,432Highest 16% below IL $3,488Lowest 34% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±61.9 IL: 47.9% 0%±100 IL: 47.9%
Below poverty line 6.1%Lowest IL: 11.8% 7.1%Highest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 95.3%Lowest IL: 67.1% 97.1%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Highest 3 yrs newer than IL 1960Lowest 11 yrs older than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 13% above IL 29 minLowest 4% above IL
Work from home 6.7%±3.7Lowest IL: 15.9% 7.2%±3.8Highest IL: 15.9%
Buckeye Township and Harlem Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.9%Lowest 2.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miLowest 15.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.33Highest 0.16Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Freeport (35%)Freeport (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Buckeye TownshipFew work in Harlem Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.4%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 7.2 miHighest 7.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 mi 0.2 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.7Highest 3.5Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #241 of 384 in IL—
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.

Harlem Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Harlem Township’s Town Square.

Buckeye Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Buckeye Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Harlem Township

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Freeport23,505 people · $92K homes
+ Compare
Freeport Township23,505 people · $92K homes
F
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Florence Township1,250 people · $216K homes
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+ Compare
Lancaster Township1,296 people · $154K homes

Towns like Harlem Township

A
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Andalusia Township2,318 people · $219K homes
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Oquawka Township1,659 people · $104K homes
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Cotton Hill Township1,099 people · $283K homes
+ Compare
Rockvale Township1,649 people · $234K 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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