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Harlem Township vs Lancaster Township

Next-door neighbors in Stephenson County. The biggest differences: trails (9× in Harlem Township) and average commute (13 min in Lancaster Township).

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Harlem Township, ILAn outdoors townStephenson County · 1,993 people

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Lancaster Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsStephenson County · 1,296 people

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 →

Lancaster TownshipOne of the healthiest towns

Health73% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Lancaster 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.

Harlem Township has more miles of trail

Harlem Township 7.2 miLancaster Township 0.8 mi

Average commute13 min

Lancaster Township has the shorter commute

Harlem Township 31 minLancaster Township 18 min

Jobs per worker2.4×

Lancaster Township is more of a job hub

Lancaster Township 0.79Harlem Township 0.33

Property tax bill+33%

Tax bills are bigger in Harlem Township

Harlem Township $4,432Lancaster Township $3,340

Typical home built17 yrs

Lancaster Township’s homes are older

Harlem Township 1974Lancaster Township 1957

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 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.

Down paymentRate%

Harlem Township$1,280/mo

Typical home $173K (Census) · tax rate 2.56% · or rent about $891/mo · Housing →

Lancaster Township$1,090/mo

Typical home $154K (Census) · tax rate 2.17% · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Harlem Township and Lancaster 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 Lancaster Township share a border

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

Harlem TownshipLancaster Township

Harlem Township ↔ Lancaster Township6.8 miles apart · They share a border · Same county

Who commutes between them

15 Harlem Township residents work in Lancaster Township (1.5% of its workers)

Work & commute in Harlem Township →

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 CLancaster 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

Harlem TownshipLancaster Township

Snow a year35″35″

January low11°F 11°F

July high82°F 82°F

Growing season (days)169d 169d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)36th 27th

Outdoors & history

Harlem TownshipLancaster Township

Trails7 mi 1 mi

Conserved land1.4%0.8%

National Register places2 —

Community

Harlem TownshipLancaster 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

Harlem TownshipLancaster Township

People

Population 1,993Highest 1,296Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -11.5%Highest -12.4%Lowest

Median age 57.8±2.6Highest 48% above IL 56±4.4Lowest 44% above IL

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

Kids under 18 11.4%±3Highest IL: 21.8% 5.2%±3.8Lowest IL: 21.8%

Harlem Township and Lancaster 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% 28.4%±6.7Lowest IL: 17%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 17%Highest IL: 37.8% 12.6%Lowest IL: 37.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.7%±1.8Highest IL: 6.3% 0.6%±0.7Lowest IL: 6.3%

Harlem Township and Lancaster 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 $91,250±$14kLowest 9% above IL

Harlem Township and Lancaster 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 $154,100±$18kLowest 41% below IL

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $891±$752 30% below IL —

Property taxmedian, yearly $4,432Highest 16% below IL $3,340Lowest 37% below IL

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±61.9Lowest IL: 47.9% 100%±100Highest IL: 47.9%

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

Below poverty line 6.1%Lowest IL: 11.8% 6.6%Highest IL: 11.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 95.3%Lowest IL: 67.1% 98.4%Highest IL: 67.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1974Highest 3 yrs newer than IL 1957Lowest 14 yrs older than IL

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 13% above IL 18 minLowest 36% below IL

Work from home 6.7%±3.7Lowest IL: 15.9% 6.9%±3.5Highest IL: 15.9%

Lancaster 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 2.3%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miLowest 23.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.33Lowest 0.79Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Freeport (35%)Freeport (26%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others 2% work in Lancaster TownshipFew work in Harlem Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 1.4%Highest 0.8%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 7.2 miHighest 0.8 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.7Highest 3.1Lowest

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.

Lancaster Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lancaster Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Harlem Township and Lancaster Township

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Bordering Harlem Township

Freeport23,505 people · $92K homes

Freeport Township23,505 people · $92K homes

Florence Township1,250 people · $216K homes

Erin Township423 people · $226K homes

Towns like Harlem Township

Andalusia Township2,318 people · $219K homes

Oquawka Township1,659 people · $104K homes

Cotton Hill Township1,099 people · $283K homes

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.