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Johnstown vs Ithaca

179 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.8× in Ithaca) and trails (3.3× in Johnstown).

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Johnstown, WIAn outdoors townPolk County · 623 people
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Ithaca, WIKnown for its schoolsRichland County · 645 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.

JohnstownAn outdoors town
Outdoors14.9% conserved land2.3 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Johnstown →
IthacaKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 22%of WI districts All about Ithaca →
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.

Jobs per worker3.8×
Ithaca is more of a job hub
Ithaca 0.50Johnstown 0.13
Trails3.3×
Johnstown has more miles of trail
Johnstown 2.3 miIthaca 0.7 mi
Seasonal homes+30.1 pts
Johnstown has more second homes
Johnstown 42.8%Ithaca 12.7%
Home values+32%
Homes cost more in Johnstown
Johnstown $302,900Ithaca $228,900
Growth since 2010+8.9 pts
Ithaca has grown faster since 2010
Ithaca +2.3%Johnstown -6.6%
Kids under 18+8.8 pts
Ithaca has more kids
Ithaca 25%Johnstown 16.2%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $370 more a month in Johnstown

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.

Johnstown$1,850/mo
Typical home $303K (Census) · tax rate 1.05% · or rent about $791/mo · Housing →
Ithaca$1,480/mo
Typical home $229K (Census) · tax rate 1.49% · or rent about $883/mo · Housing →

The difference: $370 a month, about $4,400 a year, between Johnstown and Ithaca.

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

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Wisconsin ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools
–JohnstownNot graded C−IthacaBetter than 22% of districts in the state
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
JohnstownIthaca
Snow a year61″40″
January low5°F8°F
July high81°F82°F
Growing season (days)149d154d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)19th74th
Outdoors & history
JohnstownIthaca
Trails2 mi1 mi
Conserved land14.9%1.7%
Archive photos—6
Community
JohnstownIthaca
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.

Where they are

179 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

JohnstownPolk CountyIthacaRichland County
Johnstown ↔ Ithaca179 miles apart
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.

JohnstownIthaca
People
Population 623Lowest 645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -6.6%Lowest WI: +3.6% +2.3%Highest WI: +3.6%
Median age 47±4.7Lowest 17% above WI 47.6±14.8Highest 18% above WI
Ithaca and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.2%±3.7Lowest WI: 21.4% 25%±4.8Highest WI: 21.4%
Age 65+ 24.1%±2.4Highest WI: 18.5% 19.4%±6.8Lowest WI: 18.5%
Johnstown and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20.4%Lowest WI: 33.4% 21.3%Highest WI: 33.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5%±2.4Highest WI: 5.8% 1.9%±1.5Lowest WI: 5.8%
Johnstown and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $98,750±$18kHighest 27% above WI $96,080±$11kLowest 24% above WI
Johnstown and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $302,900±$45kHighest 14% above WI $228,900±$17kLowest 14% below WI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $791±$183Lowest 27% below WI $883±$58Highest 19% below WI
Ithaca and Johnstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,167Lowest 16% below WI $3,402Highest 10% below WI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 10.3%±49.8Highest WI: 43.7% 0%±80Lowest WI: 43.7%
Johnstown and Ithaca are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.5%Highest WI: 10.6% 12%Lowest WI: 10.6%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.8%Lowest WI: 67.8% 85.9%Highest WI: 67.8%
Typical home builtmedian year 1984Highest 9 yrs newer than WI 1974Lowest 1 yr older than WI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest 26% above WI 22 minLowest about the WI average
Work from home 10.1%±4Highest WI: 13.1% 3.5%±1.6Lowest WI: 13.1%
Work in townworking residents 2.5%Highest 0.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 30.3 miHighest 20.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.13Lowest 0.50Highest
Top workplaceoutside town La Follette (7%)Richland Center (26%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in IthacaFew work in Johnstown
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 14.9%Highest 1.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.3 miHighest 0.7 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.4Lowest 2.3Highest
Schools
School district —Ithaca School District
High school in town —Ithaca High
Students per teacherat that high school — 10.3
Wisconsin 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.

Johnstown neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Johnstown’s Town Square.

Ithaca neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ithaca’s Town Square.

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Bordering Johnstown

C
+ Compare
Crystal Lake858 people · $242K homes
B
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Beaver968 people · $281K homes
M
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McKinley397 people · $220K homes
G
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Georgetown1,239 people · $303K homes

Towns like Johnstown

+ Compare
Hartland811 people · $249K homes
W
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Washington881 people · $292K homes
P
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Portland806 people · $281K homes
W
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West Sweden748 people · $231K 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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