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Lancaster Township vs Stevenson Township

261 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (4.6× in Lancaster Township) and property tax bill (+60% in Lancaster Township).

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Lancaster Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsStephenson County · 1,296 people
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Stevenson Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsMarion County · 1,036 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.

Lancaster TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health73% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Lancaster Township →
Stevenson TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health67% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Stevenson 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.

Jobs per worker4.6×
Lancaster Township is more of a job hub
Lancaster Township 0.79Stevenson Township 0.17
Property tax bill+60%
Tax bills are bigger in Lancaster Township
Lancaster Township $3,340Stevenson Township $2,093
Kids under 18+11.1 pts
Stevenson Township has more kids
Stevenson Township 16.3%Lancaster Township 5.2%
Age 65++12.4 pts
Lancaster Township has more people 65 and up
Lancaster Township 28.4%Stevenson Township 16%
Typical home built27 yrs
Lancaster Township’s homes are older
Stevenson Township 1984Lancaster Township 1957
Average commute6 min
Lancaster Township has the shorter commute
Stevenson Township 24 minLancaster Township 18 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $200 more a month in Lancaster 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.

Lancaster Township$1,090/mo
Typical home $154K (Census) · tax rate 2.17% · Housing →
Stevenson Township$880/mo
Typical home $135K (Census) · tax rate 1.55% · or rent about $744/mo · Housing →

The difference: $200 a month, about $2,400 a year, between Lancaster Township and Stevenson 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

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
CLancaster TownshipHealthier than 27% of U.S. towns CStevenson TownshipHealthier than 33% of U.S. towns
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
Lancaster TownshipStevenson Township
Snow a year35″10″
January low11°F21°F
July high82°F88°F
Growing season (days)169d197d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)27th61st
Outdoors & history
Lancaster TownshipStevenson Township
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land0.8%—
Famous people born here—1
Community
Lancaster TownshipStevenson 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.

Where they are

261 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Lancaster TownshipStephenson CountyStevenson TownshipMarion County
Lancaster Township ↔ Stevenson Township261 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.

Lancaster TownshipStevenson Township
People
Population 1,296Highest 1,036Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -12.4%Highest -13.5%Lowest
Median age 56±4.4Highest 44% above IL 50.9±7.1Lowest 31% above IL
Lancaster Township and Stevenson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 5.2%±3.8Lowest IL: 21.8% 16.3%±5.3Highest IL: 21.8%
Age 65+ 28.4%±6.7Highest IL: 17% 16%±3.8Lowest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.6%Highest IL: 37.8% 12%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.6%±0.7Lowest IL: 6.3% 0.8%±1.6Highest IL: 6.3%
Stevenson Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $91,250±$14kLowest 9% above IL $93,138±$17kHighest 12% above IL
Stevenson Township and Lancaster Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $154,100±$18kHighest 41% below IL $135,200±$15kLowest 49% below IL
Lancaster Township and Stevenson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly — $744±$163 42% below IL
Property taxmedian, yearly $3,340Highest 37% below IL $2,093Lowest 60% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 100%±100Highest IL: 47.9% 18.8%±100Lowest IL: 47.9%
Lancaster Township and Stevenson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.6%Lowest IL: 11.8% 10.7%Highest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 98.4%Highest IL: 67.1% 96.4%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1957Lowest 14 yrs older than IL 1984Highest 13 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 36% below IL 24 minHighest 14% below IL
Work from home 6.9%±3.5Highest IL: 15.9% 5.9%±4.7Lowest IL: 15.9%
Lancaster Township and Stevenson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.3%Highest 1.3%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.3 miHighest 17.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.79Highest 0.17Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Freeport (26%)Salem (24%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Stevenson TownshipFew work in Lancaster Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.8%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.8 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.1Highest 2.7Lowest
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.

Lancaster Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lancaster Township’s Town Square.

Stevenson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Stevenson Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Lancaster Township

+ Compare
Freeport23,505 people · $92K homes
+ Compare
Freeport Township23,505 people · $92K homes
S
+ Compare
Silver Creek Township462 people · $186K homes
H
+ Compare
Harlem Township1,993 people · $173K homes

Towns like Lancaster Township

+ Compare
Cotton Hill Township1,099 people · $283K homes
N
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Newtown Township804 people · $216K homes
+ Compare
Pine Rock Township696 people · $192K homes
G
+ Compare
Gifford822 people · $171K 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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