Compare towns
Jefferson vs Belvidere vs Carroll
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Carroll has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.
| Measure | Jefferson | Belvidere | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Highest |
422Lowest |
659 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
62.4±4.8Highest 60% above U.S. |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.5%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Carroll and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Jefferson and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13k 17% below U.S. |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average |
$64,821±$26kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$239,200±$51kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$261,500±$42k 21% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,542±$1kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$1,078±$241 24% below U.S. |
| Belvidere and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,356Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28%±47.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Belvidere and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Lowest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | 20 photos → | 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.