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Compare towns

Maroa vs Jerome

43 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+14.6 pts in Jerome) and street grid (2.1× in Jerome).

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Maroa, ILHomes around $161KIllinois · 1,714 people
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Jerome, ILHomes around $162KIllinois · 1,807 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.

MaroaHomes around $161K
Housing$161K typical home46% below the IL typical home HealthHealthier than 73%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Maroa →
JeromeHomes around $162K
Housing$162K typical home46% below the IL typical home Health70% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Jerome →
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.

Growth since 2010+14.6 pts
Jerome has grown faster since 2010
Jerome +2.2%Maroa -12.4%
Street grid2.1×
Jerome has the more walkable street grid
Jerome 117Maroa 56.7
Property tax bill+22%
Tax bills are bigger in Maroa
Maroa $2,936Jerome $2,414
★ What stands out · 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
B+MaroaHealthier than 73% of U.S. towns CJeromeHealthier than 30% of U.S. towns
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.

Maroa$1,150/mo
Typical home $161K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.32% · or rent about $851/mo · Housing →
Jerome$1,100/mo
Typical home $162K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.89% · or rent about $951/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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
MaroaJerome
Snow a year21″22″
January low—20°F
July high—87°F
Growing season (days)—187d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)48th44th
Outdoors & history
MaroaJerome
Trails0 mi—
Conserved land0%—
Settled1867—
Archive photos42
Famous people born here3—
Community
MaroaJerome
Library hours a week36 hrs—
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

43 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

MaroaILJeromeIL
Maroa ↔ Jerome43 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.

MaroaJerome
People
Population 1,714Lowest 1,807Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -12.4%Lowest +2.2%Highest
Median age 39±7.4Highest about the IL average 35.6±4.1Lowest 9% below IL
Maroa and Jerome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 33%±12.9Highest IL: 21.8% 19%±6.1Lowest IL: 21.8%
Maroa and Jerome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 16.7%±1.2Highest IL: 17% 16.5%±2.2Lowest IL: 17%
Maroa and Jerome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 32.5%Highest IL: 37.8% 29.8%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.5%±1Highest IL: 6.3% 2.4%±2Lowest IL: 6.3%
Maroa and Jerome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $72,500±$12kHighest 13% below IL $65,189±$12kLowest 22% below IL
Maroa and Jerome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $126,800±$13kLowest 52% below IL $127,800±$7kHighest 51% below IL
Jerome and Maroa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $851±$29Lowest 33% below IL $951±$75Highest 25% below IL
Jerome and Maroa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,936Highest 45% below IL $2,414Lowest 54% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 24.1%±6.4Highest IL: 47.9% 21.9%±10.2Lowest IL: 47.9%
Maroa and Jerome are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.8%Highest IL: 11.8% 6.4%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 71%Highest IL: 67.1% 70.4%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1968Highest 3 yrs older than IL 1959Lowest 12 yrs older than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minHighest 18% below IL 20 minLowest 28% below IL
Work from home 6.6%±2.5Lowest IL: 15.9% 9.1%±5.1Highest IL: 15.9%
Jerome and Maroa are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 6.1%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.3 miHighest 3.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.32Lowest 0.37Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Decatur (38%)Springfield (64%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in JeromeFew work in Maroa
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 0.1%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
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 56.7Lowest 117Highest
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.

Maroa neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Maroa’s Town Square.

Jerome neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Jerome’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Maroa

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Gridley1,390 people · $141K homes
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Jonesboro1,870 people · $106K homes
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New Berlin1,442 people · $163K homes
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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