What stands out worked out from the figures below

Thurman has the most people working from home (19%).

Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Thurman	Belvidere
People
Population	977Highest	422Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-10.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	52.7±3.8Highest 35% above U.S.	40.7±6.5Lowest 5% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Belvidere and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	8.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thurman and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,750±$14kLowest 27% below U.S.	$81,563±$18kHighest about the U.S. average
	Belvidere and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$197,400±$43kLowest 41% below U.S.	$239,200±$51kHighest 28% below U.S.
	Belvidere and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,175±$599Highest 54% above U.S.	$1,542±$1kLowest 9% above U.S.
	Thurman and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,368Lowest 24% below U.S.	$3,908Highest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.1%±77.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.7%±53.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Belvidere and Thurman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above U.S.	38 minHighest 42% above U.S.
Work from home	19%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.4%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thurman and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.