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Sharon Township vs Shafter Township

Next-door neighbors in Fayette County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (66× in Shafter Township) and size (4× in Sharon Township).

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Sharon Township, ILAn outdoors townFayette County · 3,006 people
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Shafter Township, ILA regional job hubFayette County · 753 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.

Sharon TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors#347 most conserved land in IL1.7 miles of trails across 0 parks and preserves Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Sharon Township →
Shafter TownshipA regional job hub
Work371 jobsbased in Shafter Township, a regional job hub All about Shafter 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 worker66×
Shafter Township is more of a job hub
Shafter Township 1.98Sharon Township 0.03
Size4×
Sharon Township is the bigger place
Sharon Township 3,006Shafter Township 753
Age 65++9.8 pts
Shafter Township has more people 65 and up
Shafter Township 20.3%Sharon Township 10.5%
Bachelor’s degree++15.4 pts
More adults in Sharon Township have a degree
Sharon Township 35.2%Shafter Township 19.8%
Homeowners+11.8 pts renters
Sharon Township has more renters
Shafter Township 95%Sharon Township 83.2%
Typical home built16 yrs
Sharon Township’s homes are older
Shafter Township 1996Sharon Township 1980
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $400 more a month in Shafter Township

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.

Sharon Township$1,390/mo
Typical home $222K (Census) · tax rate 1.22% · Housing →
Shafter Township$1,790/mo
Typical home $291K (Census) · tax rate 1.10% · Housing →

The difference: $400 a month, about $4,800 a year, between Shafter Township and Sharon 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.

Where they are

Sharon Township and Shafter Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Sharon TownshipShafter TownshipSharon TownshipShafter Township
Sharon Township ↔ Shafter Township5.5 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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
C+Sharon TownshipHealthier than 37% of U.S. towns –Shafter TownshipNot graded
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
Sharon TownshipShafter Township
Snow a year13″13″
January low19°F19°F
July high85°F85°F
Growing season (days)185d185d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)65th65th
Outdoors & history
Sharon TownshipShafter Township
Trails2 mi2 mi
Conserved land4.6%0.6%
Famous people born here—1
Community
Sharon TownshipShafter Township
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.

Sharon TownshipShafter Township
People
Population 3,006Highest 753Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +21.6% —
Median age 42.4±5.8Highest 9% above IL 42±8.3Lowest 8% above IL
Sharon Township and Shafter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.9%±5.4Lowest IL: 21.8% 25.9%±6.7Highest IL: 21.8%
Shafter Township and Sharon Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.5%±5.8Lowest IL: 17% 20.3%±1.5Highest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 35.2%Highest IL: 37.8% 19.8%Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.7%±4.7Highest IL: 6.3% 0%±2.4Lowest IL: 6.3%
Sharon Township and Shafter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $106,727±$19kHighest 28% above IL $93,125±$76kLowest 12% above IL
Sharon Township and Shafter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $222,400±$95kLowest 16% below IL $291,300±$149kHighest 11% above IL
Shafter Township and Sharon Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,705Lowest 49% below IL $3,196Highest 40% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 79.5%±45.9 IL: 47.9% —
Below poverty line 15.1%Highest IL: 11.8% 6.9%Lowest IL: 11.8%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.2%Lowest IL: 67.1% 95%Highest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year 1980Lowest 9 yrs newer than IL 1996Highest 25 yrs newer than IL
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest about the IL average 24 minLowest 14% below IL
Work from home 2.1%±3Lowest IL: 15.9% 17.6%±18Highest IL: 15.9%
Shafter Township and Sharon Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0%Lowest 1.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 32.8 miHighest 31.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.03Lowest 1.98Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Vandalia (25%)Vandalia (26%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Shafter TownshipFew work in Sharon Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 4.6%Highest 0.6%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.7 miHighest 1.5 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 4.0Highest 3.0Lowest
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.

Sharon Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sharon Township’s Town Square.

Shafter Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Shafter Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Sharon Township

S
+ Compare
Sefton Township420 people · $135K homes
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Vandalia5,796 people · $99K homes
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Ramsey Township2,072 people · $71K homes
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Vandalia Township6,275 people · $109K homes

Towns like Sharon Township

+ Compare
Elmwood Township2,698 people · $162K homes
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+ Compare
Moro Township3,495 people · $271K homes
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+ Compare
Palmyra Township2,877 people · $266K homes
+ Compare
Lexington Township2,589 people · $187K 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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