What stands out worked out from the figures below

Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).

Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Heath	Belvidere
People
Population	765Highest	422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S.	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Heath and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Heath and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S.	$81,563±$18kLowest about the U.S. average
	Heath and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S.	$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S.
	Heath and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,542±$1k 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,438Highest 42% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belvidere and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 32% above U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Heath and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.