Compare towns
Junction vs Browning
202 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.1× in Browning) and conserved land (+22.3 pts in Browning).
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.
Junction A small town of 42
Quiet strengths Junction doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Junction →
Browning A small town of 99
Quiet strengths Browning doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Browning →
The biggest differences Where they differ most The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.
★ What stands out · 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.
Down payment3.5% 10% 20% Rate %
Junction $420 /mo
Typical home $72K (Census) · tax rate 0.79% · Housing →
Browning $470 /mo
Typical home $71K (Census) · tax rate 1.68% · Housing →
The difference: $50 a month , about $600 a year , between Browning and Junction.
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.
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
Junction Browning
Growing season (days) 209d —
Outdoors & history
Junction Browning
Community
Junction Browning
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 202 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Junction ↔ Browning 202 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.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Junction Browning
People
Population
42 Lowest
99 Highest
Median age
40.3 ±22.5 Lowest
3% above IL
43.8 ±34.8 Highest
12% above IL
Browning and Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.2% ±65.3 Lowest
IL: 21.8%
26.3% ±37.2 Highest
IL: 21.8%
Browning and Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.2% ±75.8 Highest
IL: 17%
17.2% ±29.2 Lowest
IL: 17%
Junction and Browning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
3.3% Lowest
IL: 37.8%
7.1% Highest
IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4% ±31.7 Highest
IL: 6.3%
0% ±18.6 Lowest
IL: 6.3%
Junction and Browning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,625 ±$29k
33% below IL
—
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$71,700 ±$36k Highest
73% below IL
$71,400 ±$9k Lowest
73% below IL
Junction and Browning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$567 Lowest
89% below IL
$1,196 Highest
77% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0% ±100 Lowest
IL: 47.9%
100% ±100 Highest
IL: 47.9%
Browning and Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.5% Highest
IL: 11.8%
4% Lowest
IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.4% Lowest
IL: 67.1%
72.5% Highest
IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975 Highest
4 yrs newer than IL
1947 Lowest
24 yrs older than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
— 27 min
5% below IL
Work from home
0% ±92.9
IL: 15.9%
0% ±29.5
IL: 15.9%
Work in townworking residents
0%
0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
23.3 mi Highest
22.3 mi Lowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.00 Lowest
0.02 Highest
Top workplaceoutside town
Black Township (27%) Rushville (32%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Browning Few work in Junction
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town
0% Lowest
22.3% Highest
Trailsmapped miles
0.2 mi Highest
0.0 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.3 mi Highest
0.0 mi Lowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0
0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
25.5 Lowest
45.4 Highest
Illinois average“±” Census margin of error ACS 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.
Junction or Browning: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Junction? →
Moving to Junction: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Junction’s Town Square.
Browning or Junction: which would you pick? →
What’s it really like to live in Browning? →
Moving to Browning: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Browning’s Town Square.
Add a town Set another town beside Junction and Browning One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.
Towns like Junction 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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