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Backus Township vs Nester Township

Next-door neighbors in Roscommon County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (42.5× in Backus Township) and street grid (3.3× in Backus Township).

Backus Township, MIAn outdoors townRoscommon County · 378 people

Nester Township, MIAn outdoors townRoscommon County · 183 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.

Backus TownshipAn outdoors town

Outdoors13.8% conserved land68 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Backus Township →

Nester TownshipAn outdoors town

Outdoors57.2% conserved land147 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Nester 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 worker42.5×

Backus Township is more of a job hub

Backus Township 0.85Nester Township 0.02

Street grid3.3×

Backus Township has the more walkable street grid

Backus Township 1.0Nester Township 0.3

Conserved land+43.4 pts

Nester Township has more conserved land

Nester Township 57.2%Backus Township 13.8%

Average commute22 min

Backus Township has the shorter commute

Nester Township 46 minBackus Township 24 min

Seasonal homes+29.7 pts

Nester Township has more second homes

Nester Township 71.7%Backus Township 42%

Median age10.7 yrs

Nester Township skews older

Nester Township 64Backus Township 53.3

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Backus 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.

Down paymentRate%

Backus Township$1,010/mo

Typical home $168K (Census) · tax rate 0.90% · Housing →

Nester Township$810/mo

Typical home $132K (Census) · tax rate 1.11% · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,300 a year, between Backus Township and Nester 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

Backus Township and Nester Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Backus TownshipNester Township

Backus Township ↔ Nester Township6.4 miles apart · They share a border · Same county

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

Backus TownshipNester Township

Snow a year66″49″

January low11°F 13°F

July high81°F 82°F

Growing season (days)125d 148d

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

Outdoors & history

Backus TownshipNester Township

Trails68 mi 147 mi

Conserved land13.8%57.2%

National Register places—1

Archive photos3 4

Community

Backus TownshipNester Township

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.

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 Michigan average

Backus TownshipNester Township

People

Population 378Highest 183Lowest

Median age 53.3±6.7Lowest 33% above MI 64±3.9Highest 59% above MI

Kids under 18 8.2%±4.9Highest MI: 21.2% 3.3%±12.4Lowest MI: 21.2%

Backus Township and Nester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 28.6%±4.9Lowest MI: 18.6% 47%±22.4Highest MI: 18.6%

Nester Township and Backus Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.3%Highest MI: 32.4% 14%Lowest MI: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 9%±8.4Highest MI: 6.1% 0%±8.5Lowest MI: 6.1%

Backus Township and Nester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $62,500±$15kLowest 14% below MI $63,750±$44kHighest 13% below MI

Nester Township and Backus Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $167,900±$40kHighest 28% below MI $132,100±$54kLowest 43% below MI

Backus Township and Nester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,513Highest 48% below MI $1,461Lowest 50% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 85.2%±79.6 MI: 50.4% —

Below poverty line 14.4%Highest MI: 13.2% 10.9%Lowest MI: 13.2%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 84.1%Lowest MI: 73.2% 97.7%Highest MI: 73.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1979Lowest 7 yrs newer than MI 1986Highest 14 yrs newer than MI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 24 minLowest about the MI average 46 minHighest 88% above MI

Work from home 7.6%±6.5Highest MI: 13.5% 4.4%±8.4Lowest MI: 13.5%

Backus Township and Nester Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 1.4%Highest 0%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 27.8 miLowest 44.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.85Highest 0.02Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Denton Township (14%)Denton Township (15%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Nester TownshipFew work in Backus Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 13.8%Lowest 57.2%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 67.9 miLowest 147.2 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.9 miLowest 2.1 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.0Highest 0.3Lowest

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.

Backus Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Backus Township’s Town Square.

Nester Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Nester Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Backus Township

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Higgins Township2,054 people · $103K homes

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Denton Township5,372 people · $163K homes

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Richfield Township3,563 people · $110K homes

Towns like Backus Township

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McKinley Township350 people · $165K homes

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Paris Township362 people · $165K homes

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Beaver Township463 people · $168K homes

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Eden Township351 people · $163K 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.

Backus Township vs Nester Township

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

A typical home costs $190 more a month in Backus Township

Backus Township and Nester Township share a border

What daily life feels like in each

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Backus Township and Nester Township

Bordering Backus Township

Towns like Backus Township

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