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Independence Township vs Mountain Township

Next-door neighbors in Saline County. The biggest differences: age 65+ (+29.2 pts in Mountain Township) and kids under 18 (+22.6 pts in Independence Township).

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Independence Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsSaline County · 1,050 people
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Mountain Township, ILAn outdoors townSaline County · 262 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.

Independence TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health70% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors13.4% conserved land17 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves All about Independence Township →
Mountain TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors39.6% conserved land23 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Mountain 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.

Age 65++29.2 pts
Mountain Township has more people 65 and up
Mountain Township 45%Independence Township 15.8%
Kids under 18+22.6 pts
Independence Township has more kids
Independence Township 27.2%Mountain Township 4.6%
Average commute17 min
Independence Township has the shorter commute
Mountain Township 39 minIndependence Township 23 min
Jobs per worker2.7×
Independence Township is more of a job hub
Independence Township 0.30Mountain Township 0.11
Conserved land+26.2 pts
Mountain Township has more conserved land
Mountain Township 39.6%Independence Township 13.4%
Size4×
Independence Township is the bigger place
Independence Township 1,050Mountain Township 262
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $850 more a month in Mountain 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.

Independence Township$1,190/mo
Typical home $169K (Census) · tax rate 2.16% · Housing →
Mountain Township$2,040/mo
Typical home $308K (Census) · tax rate 1.65% · Housing →

The difference: $850 a month, about $10,300 a year, between Mountain Township and Independence 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

Independence Township and Mountain Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Independence TownshipMountain TownshipIndependence TownshipMountain Township
Independence Township ↔ Mountain Township6.2 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
CIndependence TownshipHealthier than 30% of U.S. towns –Mountain 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
Independence TownshipMountain Township
Snow a year7″3″
January low26°F22°F
July high88°F86°F
Growing season (days)189d181d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)81st81st
Outdoors & history
Independence TownshipMountain Township
Trails17 mi23 mi
Conserved land13.4%39.6%
Community
Independence TownshipMountain 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.

Independence TownshipMountain Township
People
Population 1,050Highest 262Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5.7% —
Median age 39.8±14.4Lowest about the IL average 54.8±27.8Highest 41% above IL
Mountain Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 27.2%±6Highest IL: 21.8% 4.6%±14.6Lowest IL: 21.8%
Age 65+ 15.8%±3Lowest IL: 17% 45%±7Highest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 34.7%Lowest IL: 37.8% 40.2%Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.2%±3.9Lowest IL: 6.3% 13.7%±19.4Highest IL: 6.3%
Mountain Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $79,375±$32kLowest 5% below IL $112,841±$73kHighest 35% above IL
Mountain Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $168,500±$19kLowest 36% below IL $308,300±$171kHighest 17% above IL
Mountain Township and Independence Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,632Lowest 31% below IL $5,095Highest 4% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 100%±100 IL: 47.9% —
Below poverty line 1.8%Highest IL: 11.8% 0%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 82.5%Lowest IL: 67.1% 100%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1990Lowest 19 yrs newer than IL 1998Highest 27 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest 18% below IL 39 minHighest 41% above IL
Work from home 5%±5.3Highest IL: 15.9% 0%±8.6Lowest IL: 15.9%
Independence Township and Mountain Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.5%Highest 0%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 22.8 miLowest 28.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.30Highest 0.11Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Harrisburg (26%)Harrisburg (30%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Mountain TownshipFew work in Independence Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 13.4%Lowest 39.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 17.2 miLowest 22.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 mi 0.5 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.9Highest 1.1Lowest
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.

Independence Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Independence Township’s Town Square.

Mountain Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Mountain Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Independence Township

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Stonefort Township370 people · $115K homes
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Harrisburg Township9,838 people · $88K homes
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Carrier Mills Township2,507 people · $81K homes

Towns like Independence Township

B
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Brimfield Township987 people · $158K homes
B
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Bois D'Arc Township904 people · $133K homes
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Annawan Township1,084 people · $147K homes
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Nauvoo931 people · $157K 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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