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Reading Township vs Elk Township

219 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (7.2× in Reading Township) and rent (+57% in Reading Township).

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Reading Township, ILA regional job hubLivingston County · 1,722 people
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Elk Township, ILOne of the healthiest townsJackson County · 1,444 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 →
Elk TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health81% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Elk 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 worker7.2×
Reading Township is more of a job hub
Reading Township 1.52Elk Township 0.21
Rent+57%
Rent runs higher in Reading Township
Reading Township $1,156Elk Township $738
Trails2.6×
Elk Township has more miles of trail
Elk Township 5.9 miReading Township 2.3 mi
Property tax bill+44%
Tax bills are bigger in Reading Township
Reading Township $1,202Elk Township $833
Growth since 2010+7.3 pts
Reading Township has grown faster since 2010
Reading Township -1.1%Elk Township -8.4%
Work in town+10.2 pts
More of Reading Township’s workers stay in town
Reading Township 13%Elk Township 2.8%
★ 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 →
Elk Township$470/mo
Typical home $77K (Census) · tax rate 1.08% · or rent about $738/mo · Housing →

The difference: $80 a month, about $1,000 a year, between Reading Township and Elk 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 B−Elk TownshipBetter than 48% of districts in the state
Health
CReading TownshipHealthier than 27% of U.S. towns C−Elk TownshipHealthier than 19% 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 TownshipElk Township
Snow a year26″12″
January low16°F24°F
July high88°F87°F
Growing season (days)199d199d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)71st84th
Outdoors & history
Reading TownshipElk Township
Trails2 mi6 mi
Conserved land0.1%4.6%
Archive photos1—
Community
Reading TownshipElk Township
Library hours a week—35 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

219 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Reading TownshipLivingston CountyElk TownshipJackson County
Reading Township ↔ Elk Township219 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 TownshipElk Township
People
Population 1,722Highest 1,444Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.1%Highest -8.4%Lowest
Median age 45±10.4Highest 15% above IL 44.4±6Lowest 14% above IL
Reading Township and Elk 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% 21.2%±3.5Highest IL: 21.8%
Elk 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% 26.4%±3.4Lowest IL: 17%
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.7%Lowest IL: 37.8% 12.1%Highest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.8%±1.8Lowest IL: 6.3% 2.7%±1.4Highest IL: 6.3%
Elk 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 $46,940±$7kLowest 44% below IL
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $87,100±$27kHighest 67% below IL $76,900±$13kLowest 71% below IL
Reading Township and Elk 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 $738±$213Lowest 42% below IL
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,202Highest 77% below IL $833Lowest 84% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 49.4%±34.6Lowest IL: 47.9% 53.3%±18Highest IL: 47.9%
Elk Township and Reading 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% 18.8%Highest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 79.6%Highest IL: 67.1% 75.8%Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 13 yrs older than IL 1968Highest 3 yrs older than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minLowest about the IL average 28 minHighest about the IL average
Work from home 5.6%±3.2Highest IL: 15.9% 5.5%±3.9Lowest IL: 15.9%
Reading Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 13%Highest 2.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.3 miHighest 14.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.52Highest 0.21Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Streator (24%)Carbondale (22%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Elk TownshipFew work in Reading Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.1%Lowest 4.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 2.3 miLowest 5.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.8Lowest 5.7Highest
Schools
School district Woodland CUSD 5Elverado CUSD 196
High school in town Woodland High SchoolElverado High School
Students per teacherat that high school 11.0Highest 8.5Lowest
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.

Elk Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elk Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Reading Township

L
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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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Lamotte Township2,010 people · $92K homes
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Avena Township1,888 people · $96K 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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