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Compare towns

Oswego vs Algonquin

33 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+15.1 pts in Oswego) and trails (2× in Oswego).

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Oswego, ILHomes around $423KIllinois · 36,375 people
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Algonquin, ILHomes around $419KIllinois · 30,067 people
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.

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 · Report cards

Oswego places higher on 10 of 21 IL lists

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.

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.

Oswego$3,070/mo
Typical home $423K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.42% · or rent about $1,860/mo · Housing →
Algonquin$3,000/mo
Typical home $419K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.29% · or rent about $1,723/mo · Housing →

The difference: $70 a month, about $900 a year, between Oswego and Algonquin.

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
OswegoAlgonquin
Snow a year28″32″
January low16°F14°F
July high84°F84°F
Growing season (days)185d174d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)38th18th
Outdoors & history
OswegoAlgonquin
Trails9 mi4 mi
Conserved land7.8%8%
Settled18331890
National Register places11
Archive photos1813
Famous people born here77
Community
OswegoAlgonquin
Library hours a week67 hrs69 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

33 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Oswego ↔ Algonquin33 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.

OswegoAlgonquin
People
Population 36,375Highest 30,067Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +13.9%Highest -1.2%Lowest
Median age 38.7±1.3Lowest about the IL average 41.4±1.8Highest 6% above IL
Algonquin and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.3%±2.5Highest IL: 21.8% 20.8%±2.1Lowest IL: 21.8%
Age 65+ 11%±1.3Lowest IL: 17% 15%±1.5Highest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 44.3%Highest IL: 37.8% 43.6%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.4%±1.1Lowest IL: 6.3% 6.9%±1.4Highest IL: 6.3%
Algonquin and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $123,792±$6kLowest 48% above IL $134,525±$8kHighest 61% above IL
Algonquin and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $344,500±$8kLowest 31% above IL $351,000±$9kHighest 33% above IL
Algonquin and Oswego are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,860±$184Highest 46% above IL $1,723±$210Lowest 35% above IL
Oswego and Algonquin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $8,330Highest 57% above IL $8,025Lowest 51% above IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 71.8%±14Highest IL: 47.9% 45.4%±10.5Lowest IL: 47.9%
Below poverty line 2.6%Lowest IL: 11.8% 4.1%Highest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 87.9%Lowest IL: 67.1% 88.2%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 2002Highest 31 yrs newer than IL 1994Lowest 23 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 32 minHighest 13% above IL 31 minLowest 10% above IL
Work from home 17.5%±2.9Lowest IL: 15.9% 23.1%±2.7Highest IL: 15.9%
Work in townworking residents 7.8%Highest 4.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miHighest 17.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.55Highest 0.49Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Chicago (15%)Chicago (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in AlgonquinFew work in Oswego
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 7.8%Lowest 8%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 8.6 miHighest 4.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.5 miHighest 0.3 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 40Highest 22Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 72.8Lowest 74.3Highest
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.

Oswego neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Oswego’s Town Square.

Algonquin neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Algonquin’s Town Square.

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Bordering Oswego

Towns like Oswego

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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