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Arcada Township vs Emerson Township

Next-door neighbors in Gratiot County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (2.8× in Emerson Township) and property tax bill (+45% in Arcada Township).

A ×
Arcada Township, MIA small town of 1,684Gratiot County · 1,684 people
E ×
Emerson Township, MIA small town of 751Gratiot County · 751 people
Swap order
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.

Arcada TownshipA small town of 1,684
Quiet strengthsArcada Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Arcada Township →
Emerson TownshipA small town of 751
Quiet strengthsEmerson Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Emerson 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 worker2.8×
Emerson Township is more of a job hub
Emerson Township 0.37Arcada Township 0.13
Property tax bill+45%
Tax bills are bigger in Arcada Township
Arcada Township $2,568Emerson Township $1,771
Bachelor’s degree++21.8 pts
More adults in Arcada Township have a degree
Arcada Township 38.2%Emerson Township 16.4%
Growth since 2010+10.2 pts
Arcada Township has grown faster since 2010
Arcada Township -0.6%Emerson Township -10.8%
Trails+80%
Arcada Township has more miles of trail
Arcada Township 0.9 miEmerson Township 0.5 mi
Typical home built17 yrs
Emerson Township’s homes are older
Arcada Township 1975Emerson Township 1958
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $250 more a month in Arcada 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.

Arcada Township$1,360/mo
Typical home $219K (Census) · tax rate 1.17% · or rent about $725/mo · Housing →
Emerson Township$1,110/mo
Typical home $184K (Census) · tax rate 0.96% · or rent about $825/mo · Housing →

The difference: $250 a month, about $3,000 a year, between Arcada Township and Emerson 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

Arcada Township and Emerson Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Arcada TownshipEmerson TownshipArcada TownshipEmerson Township
Arcada Township ↔ Emerson Township7.0 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 Michigan ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Health
C+Arcada TownshipHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns –Emerson 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
Arcada TownshipEmerson Township
Snow a year39″39″
January low15°F15°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)164d164d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)49th49th
Outdoors & history
Arcada TownshipEmerson Township
Trails1 mi—
Conserved land1.2%—
Community
Arcada TownshipEmerson 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.

Arcada TownshipEmerson Township
People
Population 1,684Highest 751Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -0.6%Highest MI: +2% -10.8%Lowest MI: +2%
Median age 45±6.9Lowest 12% above MI 47.2±5Highest 17% above MI
Emerson Township and Arcada Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 18.3%±3.5Highest MI: 21.2% 16.9%±4Lowest MI: 21.2%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.9%±2.9Lowest MI: 18.6% 22.2%±3.2Highest MI: 18.6%
Emerson Township and Arcada Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 38.2%Highest MI: 32.4% 16.4%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 6.7%±4.7Highest MI: 6.1% 4.4%±1.8Lowest MI: 6.1%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $88,523±$12kHighest 21% above MI $78,000±$13kLowest 7% above MI
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $218,900±$19kHighest 5% below MI $183,700±$22kLowest 21% below MI
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $725±$446Lowest 36% below MI $825±$222Highest 27% below MI
Emerson Township and Arcada Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,568Highest 12% below MI $1,771Lowest 39% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 61.3%±61.1Highest MI: 50.4% 15.8%±100Lowest MI: 50.4%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.9%Highest MI: 13.2% 6.5%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 95%Highest MI: 73.2% 88.4%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1975Highest 3 yrs newer than MI 1958Lowest 14 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 22 minLowest 8% below MI 25 minHighest about the MI average
Work from home 15.6%±7Highest MI: 13.5% 10.6%±4.5Lowest MI: 13.5%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.6%Lowest 1.6%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.3 miLowest 18.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.13Lowest 0.37Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Alma (21%)Alma (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Emerson TownshipFew work in Arcada Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.2%Highest 1%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.9 miHighest 0.5 miLowest
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 2.0Highest 1.9Lowest
Michigan 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.

Arcada Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Arcada Township’s Town Square.

Emerson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Emerson Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Arcada Township

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Alma9,396 people · $116K homes
S
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Sumner Township1,858 people · $126K homes
I
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Ithaca2,817 people · $133K homes
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Pine River Township2,687 people · $156K homes

Towns like Arcada Township

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Stanton Township1,496 people · $254K homes
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Charleston Township2,002 people · $245K homes
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Locke Township1,698 people · $293K homes
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Roxand Township1,808 people · $179K homes
Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Michigan 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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