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Watson vs Leaf River

218 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (5.3× in Leaf River) and typical home built (31 yrs in Leaf River).

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Watson, ILA small town of 620Illinois · 620 people

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Leaf River, ILHomes around $129KIllinois · 477 people

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.

WatsonA small town of 620

Quiet strengthsWatson doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Watson →

Leaf RiverHomes around $129K

Housing$129K typical home57% below the IL typical home All about Leaf River →

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.

Jobs per worker5.3×

Leaf River is more of a job hub

Leaf River 0.16Watson 0.03

Typical home built31 yrs

Leaf River’s homes are older

Watson 1981Leaf River 1950

Average commute10 min

Watson has the shorter commute

Leaf River 29 minWatson 19 min

Property tax bill+36%

Tax bills are bigger in Leaf River

Leaf River $2,239Watson $1,648

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $270 more a month in Leaf River

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.

Down paymentRate%

Watson$660/mo

Typical home $100K (Census) · tax rate 1.65% · or rent about $742/mo · Housing →

Leaf River$930/mo

Typical home $129K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.38% · or rent about $917/mo · Housing →

The difference: $270 a month, about $3,200 a year, between Leaf River and Watson.

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.

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

WatsonLeaf River

Snow a year15″32″

January low20°F —

July high89°F —

Growing season (days)191d —

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)52nd 62nd

Outdoors & history

WatsonLeaf River

Trails0 mi —

Conserved land0%—

Settled—1882

Archive photos—5

Community

WatsonLeaf River

Library hours a week—39 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

218 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

WatsonIL Leaf RiverIL

Watson ↔ Leaf River218 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.

Only big differences vs Illinois average

WatsonLeaf River

People

Population 620Highest 477Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -11.4% —

Median age 41.4±4.9Lowest 6% above IL 43.4±12.5Highest 11% above IL

Leaf River and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 17.9%±4.6Lowest IL: 21.8% 19.7%±3.9Highest IL: 21.8%

Leaf River and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 11.6%±4.2Lowest IL: 17% 16.4%±6Highest IL: 17%

Leaf River and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 14.1%Lowest IL: 37.8% 17%Highest IL: 37.8%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.5%±2.5Lowest IL: 6.3% 5.2%±3.7Highest IL: 6.3%

Leaf River and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $74,167±$9kLowest 11% below IL $79,500±$14kHighest 5% below IL

Leaf River and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $100,000±$12kHighest 62% below IL $94,000±$6kLowest 64% below IL

Watson and Leaf River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $742±$229Lowest 42% below IL $917±$201Highest 28% below IL

Leaf River and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,648Lowest 69% below IL $2,239Highest 58% below IL

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 33.3%±68.1Lowest IL: 47.9% 44.1%±18.6Highest IL: 47.9%

Leaf River and Watson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 14.8%Highest IL: 11.8% 12.8%Lowest IL: 11.8%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 84%Lowest IL: 67.1% 84.1%Highest IL: 67.1%

Typical home builtmedian year 1981Highest 10 yrs newer than IL 1950Lowest 21 yrs older than IL

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 19 minLowest 32% below IL 29 minHighest about the IL average

Work from home 9.1%±6.1Highest IL: 15.9% 3%±2.8Lowest IL: 15.9%

Watson and Leaf River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 0%Lowest 0.9%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.3 miLowest 21.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.03Lowest 0.16Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Effingham (42%)Rockford (24%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Leaf RiverFew work in Watson

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 32.2Lowest 40.5Highest

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.

Watson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Watson’s Town Square.

Leaf River neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Leaf River’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Watson and Leaf River

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Watson

Watson Township3,185 people · $171K homes

Jackson Township1,168 people · $163K homes

Towns like Watson

Patoka Township737 people · $95K homes

Cullom471 people · $101K homes

Chili Township628 people · $81K homes

Argenta879 people · $106K 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.