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Randolph Township vs Downs Township

Next-door neighbors in McLean County. The biggest differences: trails (2.8× in Randolph Township) and jobs per worker (2.7× in Downs Township).

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Randolph Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsMcLean County · 4,303 people
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Downs Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsMcLean County · 1,275 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.

Randolph TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 87%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Schools#122 for schools in ILof 384 towns All about Randolph Township →
Downs TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
HealthHealthier than 88%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 84%of IL districts All about Downs 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.

Trails2.8×
Randolph Township has more miles of trail
Randolph Township 3.7 miDowns Township 1.3 mi
Jobs per worker2.7×
Downs Township is more of a job hub
Downs Township 0.59Randolph Township 0.22
Size3.4×
Randolph Township is the bigger place
Randolph Township 4,303Downs Township 1,275
Growth since 2010+9.1 pts
Downs Township has grown faster since 2010
Downs Township +6.3%Randolph Township -2.8%
Street grid+84%
Randolph Township has the more walkable street grid
Randolph Township 4.6Downs Township 2.5
Bachelor’s degree++14.1 pts
More adults in Downs Township have a degree
Downs Township 47.8%Randolph Township 33.7%
★ 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.

Schools
B+Randolph TownshipBetter than 66% of districts in the state A−Downs TownshipBetter than 84% of districts in the state
Health
ARandolph TownshipHealthier than 87% of U.S. towns ADowns TownshipHealthier than 88% of U.S. towns
Where they are

Randolph Township and Downs Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Randolph TownshipDowns TownshipRandolph TownshipDowns Township
Randolph Township ↔ Downs Township5.7 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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.

Randolph Township$1,530/mo
Typical home $218K (Census) · tax rate 2.16% · or rent about $914/mo · Housing →
Downs Township$1,620/mo
Typical home $229K (Census) · tax rate 2.19% · or rent about $1,308/mo · Housing →

The difference: $90 a month, about $1,000 a year, between Downs Township and Randolph 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.

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
Randolph TownshipDowns Township
Snow a year7″7″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)58th58th
Outdoors & history
Randolph TownshipDowns Township
Trails4 mi1 mi
Conserved land0.2%0%
Settled—1870
Community
Randolph TownshipDowns Township
Library hours a week52 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.

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.

Randolph TownshipDowns Township
People
Population 4,303Highest 1,275Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.8%Lowest +6.3%Highest
Median age 37.4±5.8Highest 4% below IL 37.3±8.9Lowest 4% below IL
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 32.1%±5Highest IL: 21.8% 29.3%±6Lowest IL: 21.8%
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 14.9%±3.4Lowest IL: 17% 16.9%±4.9Highest IL: 17%
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 33.7%Lowest IL: 37.8% 47.8%Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.2%±1.2Lowest IL: 6.3% 3.6%±1.8Highest IL: 6.3%
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $110,439±$9kHighest 32% above IL $92,083±$29kLowest 10% above IL
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $217,600±$15kLowest 17% below IL $229,100±$26kHighest 13% below IL
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $914±$262Lowest 28% below IL $1,308±$186Highest about the IL average
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $4,707Lowest 11% below IL $5,018Highest 5% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 11.8%±13.5Lowest IL: 47.9% 34.4%±58.3Highest IL: 47.9%
Downs Township and Randolph Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.9%Lowest IL: 11.8% 7.5%Highest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 86.2%Lowest IL: 67.1% 90.4%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1977Lowest 6 yrs newer than IL 1979Highest 8 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minHighest 21% below IL 21 minLowest 24% below IL
Work from home 16.3%±7.6Highest IL: 15.9% 15.7%±5.8Lowest IL: 15.9%
Randolph Township and Downs Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 8.2%Highest 3.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 11.8 miHighest 9.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.22Lowest 0.59Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Bloomington (44%)Bloomington (50%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Downs TownshipFew work in Randolph Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.2%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 3.7 miHighest 1.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 4.6Highest 2.5Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #122 of 384 in IL—
School district Heyworth CUSD 4Tri Valley CUSD 3
High school in town Heyworth Jr-Sr High SchoolTri-Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school 14.5Highest 13.4Lowest
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.

Randolph Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Randolph Township’s Town Square.

Downs Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Downs Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Randolph Township

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Wapella Township1,091 people · $215K homes
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Bloomington Township2,623 people · $294K homes
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Funks Grove Township269 people · $288K homes

Towns like Randolph Township

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St. Joseph3,778 people · $271K homes
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St. Joseph Township5,536 people · $261K homes
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+ Compare
Mackinaw Township4,240 people · $200K homes
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Hainesville3,524 people · $211K 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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