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Reading Township vs Avena Township

140 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (+54% in Reading Township) and trails (2.3× in Avena Township).

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Reading Township, ILA regional job hubLivingston County · 1,722 people
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Avena Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsFayette County · 1,888 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.

Reading TownshipA regional job hub
Work1,202 jobsbased in Reading Township, a regional job hub Health73% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 30%of IL districts All about Reading Township →
Avena TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health83% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 22%of IL districts All about Avena 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.

Rent+54%
Rent runs higher in Reading Township
Reading Township $1,156Avena Township $749
Trails2.3×
Avena Township has more miles of trail
Avena Township 5.2 miReading Township 2.3 mi
Age 65++11.8 pts
Reading Township has more people 65 and up
Reading Township 32.1%Avena Township 20.3%
Average commute6 min
Avena Township has the shorter commute
Reading Township 27 minAvena Township 21 min
Growth since 2010+4.5 pts
Reading Township has grown faster since 2010
Reading Township -1.1%Avena Township -5.6%
Jobs per worker+54%
Reading Township is more of a job hub
Reading Township 1.52Avena Township 0.99
★ 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.

Reading Township$560/mo
Typical home $87K (Census) · tax rate 1.38% · or rent about $1,156/mo · Housing →
Avena Township$620/mo
Typical home $96K (Census) · tax rate 1.40% · or rent about $749/mo · Housing →

The difference: $60 a month, about $700 a year, between Avena Township and Reading 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.

Schools
CReading TownshipBetter than 30% of districts in the state C−Avena TownshipBetter than 22% of districts in the state
Health
CReading TownshipHealthier than 27% of U.S. towns C−Avena TownshipHealthier than 17% 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
Reading TownshipAvena Township
Snow a year26″16″
January low16°F—
July high88°F—
Growing season (days)199d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)71st60th
Outdoors & history
Reading TownshipAvena Township
Trails2 mi5 mi
Conserved land0.1%0%
Archive photos1—
Community
Reading TownshipAvena Township
Library hours a week—29 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

140 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Reading TownshipLivingston CountyAvena TownshipFayette County
Reading Township ↔ Avena Township140 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.

Reading TownshipAvena Township
People
Population 1,722Lowest 1,888Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.1%Highest -5.6%Lowest
Median age 45±10.4Highest 15% above IL 42.3±5.9Lowest 8% above IL
Reading Township and Avena Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 17.7%±6.2Lowest IL: 21.8% 22.4%±3.5Highest IL: 21.8%
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 32.1%±6.3Highest IL: 17% 20.3%±3.9Lowest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.7%Lowest IL: 37.8% 12.5%Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.8%±1.8Lowest IL: 6.3% 4.1%±2.1Highest IL: 6.3%
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $54,259±$14kHighest 35% below IL $51,023±$13kLowest 39% below IL
Reading Township and Avena Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $87,100±$27kLowest 67% below IL $96,000±$18kHighest 64% below IL
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,156±$85Highest 9% below IL $749±$30Lowest 41% below IL
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,202Lowest 77% below IL $1,345Highest 75% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 49.4%±34.6Highest IL: 47.9% 30.1%±35.9Lowest IL: 47.9%
Reading Township and Avena Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 16.6%Lowest IL: 11.8% 20%Highest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 79.6%Lowest IL: 67.1% 83.2%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 13 yrs older than IL 1967Highest 4 yrs older than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest about the IL average 21 minLowest 23% below IL
Work from home 5.6%±3.2Lowest IL: 15.9% 13.6%±5.8Highest IL: 15.9%
Avena Township and Reading Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 13%Highest 12.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.3 miLowest 21.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.52Highest 0.99Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Streator (24%)Effingham (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Avena TownshipFew work in Reading Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.3 miLowest 5.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.8Lowest 5.0Highest
Schools
School district Woodland CUSD 5St Elmo CUSD 202
High school in town Woodland High SchoolSt Elmo Sr High School
Students per teacherat that high school 11.0Lowest 12.8Highest
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.

Reading Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Reading Township’s Town Square.

Avena Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Avena Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Reading Township

L
+ Compare
Long Point Township457 people · $152K homes
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Newtown Township804 people · $216K homes
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Eagle Township1,530 people · $153K homes
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Osage Township188 people · $173K homes

Towns like Reading Township

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Palestine1,430 people · $81K homes
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Elk Township1,444 people · $77K homes
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Lamotte Township2,010 people · $92K homes
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Marissa1,232 people · $100K 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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