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Shawnee Township vs Chestnut Township 239 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (21× in Shawnee Township) and jobs per worker (3.4× in Shawnee Township).
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.
Shawnee Township A small town of 182
Quiet strengths Shawnee Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Shawnee Township →
Chestnut Township A small town of 166
Quiet strengths Chestnut Township doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Chestnut Township →
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.
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
Outdoors & history
Community
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 239 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Shawnee Township ↔ Chestnut Township 239 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.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Population
182 Highest 166 Lowest
Median age
50.9 ±7.5 Lowest 31% above IL 53.1 ±25.5 Highest 36% above IL
Kids under 18
18.7% ±16.3 Lowest IL: 21.8% 24.7% ±24.7 Highest IL: 21.8%
Age 65+
24.7% ±16 Highest IL: 17% 24.1% ±18.1 Lowest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
4.7% Highest IL: 37.8% 0% Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±10.1 IL: 6.3% 0% ±11.1 IL: 6.3%
Property taxmedian, yearly
— $1,736 67% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
— 0% ±100 IL: 47.9%
Below poverty line
36.8% Lowest IL: 11.8% 39.2% Highest IL: 11.8%
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4% Highest IL: 67.1% 83.8% Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978 Highest 7 yrs newer than IL 1938 Lowest 33 yrs older than IL
Average commuteone way
14 min Lowest 50% below IL 25 min Highest 9% below IL
Work from home
0% ±21 Lowest IL: 15.9% 12.1% ±16.5 Highest IL: 15.9%
Work in townworking residents
3.4% Highest 1.1% Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
21.3 mi Lowest 34.3 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.74 Highest 0.22 Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town
Eldorado (7%) Galesburg (34%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Chestnut Township Few work in Shawnee Township
Conserved landshare of the town
2.6% Highest 2.4% Lowest
Trailsmapped miles
2.1 mi Highest 0.1 mi Lowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.1 mi Highest 0.0 mi Lowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
2.1 Highest 1.3 Lowest
“±” Census margin of error ACS 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.
Shawnee Township or Chestnut Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Shawnee Township? → Moving to Shawnee Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Shawnee Township’s Town Square.
Chestnut Township or Shawnee Township: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Chestnut Township? → Moving to Chestnut Township: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Chestnut Township’s Town Square.
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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