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Jackson Township vs Watson Township

Next-door neighbors in Effingham County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (18.2× in Watson Township) and trails (2.7× in Watson Township).

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Jackson Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsEffingham County · 1,168 people
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Watson Township, ILKnown for its schoolsEffingham County · 3,185 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.

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.

★ What stands out · Where they are

Jackson Township and Watson Township share a border

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

Jackson TownshipWatson TownshipJackson TownshipWatson Township
Jackson Township ↔ Watson Township6.2 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
Who commutes between them
11 Jackson Township residents work in Watson Township (1.8% of its workers)
Work & commute in Jackson Township →
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Jackson Township$1,020/mo
Typical home $163K (Census) · tax rate 1.23% · Housing →
Watson Township$1,100/mo
Typical home $170K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.45% · or rent about $722/mo · Housing →

The difference: $70 a month, about $900 a year, between Watson Township and Jackson 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

Watson Township places higher on 12 of 18 IL lists

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.

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
Jackson TownshipWatson Township
Snow a year15″15″
January low20°F20°F
July high89°F89°F
Growing season (days)191d191d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)52nd62nd
Outdoors & history
Jackson TownshipWatson Township
Trails—1 mi
Conserved land—0%
Community
Jackson TownshipWatson Township
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

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.

Jackson TownshipWatson Township
People
Population 1,168Lowest 3,185Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1%Highest -0.2%Lowest
Median age 45.2±15.4Highest 16% above IL 41±2.8Lowest 5% above IL
Jackson Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23.5%±6Highest IL: 21.8% 22.3%±4.4Lowest IL: 21.8%
Jackson Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.4%±3.5Lowest IL: 17% 19.4%±4Highest IL: 17%
Watson Township and Jackson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.3%Highest IL: 37.8% 20.6%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.1%±1.7Lowest IL: 6.3% 2.8%±1.4Highest IL: 6.3%
Watson Township and Jackson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $72,560±$29kLowest 13% below IL $77,209±$10kHighest 7% below IL
Watson Township and Jackson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $163,100±$25kLowest 38% below IL $171,400±$27kHighest 35% below IL
Watson Township and Jackson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $722±$88 43% below IL
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,000Lowest 62% below IL $2,485Highest 53% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent — 20.6%±24.3 IL: 47.9%
Below poverty line 27.9%Highest IL: 11.8% 6.8%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 96.9%Highest IL: 67.1% 86.9%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1986Highest 15 yrs newer than IL 1984Lowest 13 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 21 minHighest 26% below IL 18 minLowest 35% below IL
Work from home 4.8%±4Lowest IL: 15.9% 10.7%±3.5Highest IL: 15.9%
Watson Township and Jackson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.2%Lowest 6.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miHighest 7.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.06Lowest 1.09Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Effingham (42%)Effingham (40%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 2% work in Watson TownshipFew work in Jackson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 0.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.7Lowest 4.7Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #33 of 384 in IL#224 of 384 in IL
School district —Effingham CUSD 40
High school in town —None in town
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.

Jackson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jackson Township’s Town Square.

Watson Township neighborsTown Square →

1 neighbor in Watson Township can answer.

Add a town

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Bordering Jackson Township

Towns like Jackson Township

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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