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Bates Township vs Wilber Township

279 miles apart. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (3.5× in Wilber Township) and conserved land (+24.2 pts in Wilber Township).

B ×
Bates Township, MIAn outdoors townIron County · 927 people
W ×
Wilber Township, MIAn outdoors townIosco County · 732 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.

Bates TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors38.1% conserved land112 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves All about Bates Township →
Wilber TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors62.3% conserved land164 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Wilber 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.

Jobs per worker3.5×
Wilber Township is more of a job hub
Wilber Township 0.39Bates Township 0.11
Conserved land+24.2 pts
Wilber Township has more conserved land
Wilber Township 62.3%Bates Township 38.1%
Property tax bill+20%
Tax bills are bigger in Bates Township
Bates Township $1,786Wilber Township $1,489
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Bates Township$1,000/mo
Typical home $163K (Census) · tax rate 1.09% · or rent about $775/mo · Housing →
Wilber Township$1,010/mo
Typical home $169K (Census) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $1,333/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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
Bates TownshipWilber Township
Snow a year67″49″
January low0°F13°F
July high77°F80°F
Growing season (days)95d148d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd7th
Outdoors & history
Bates TownshipWilber Township
Trails112 mi164 mi
Conserved land38.1%62.3%
National Register places2—
Community
Bates TownshipWilber 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.

Where they are

279 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Bates TownshipIron CountyWilber TownshipIosco County
Bates Township ↔ Wilber Township279 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.

Bates TownshipWilber Township
People
Population 927Highest 732Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +0.4%Highest MI: +2% -1.2%Lowest MI: +2%
Median age 57.5±5.8Lowest 43% above MI 58±4Highest 44% above MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 15.1%±4.7Highest MI: 21.2% 14.2%±4.2Lowest MI: 21.2%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 40%±4Highest MI: 18.6% 35.5%±4.2Lowest MI: 18.6%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 25.5%Highest MI: 32.4% 23.7%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.9%±4Highest MI: 6.1% 2.6%±2.1Lowest MI: 6.1%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $54,688±$13kLowest 25% below MI $66,667±$6kHighest 9% below MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $163,200±$67kLowest 30% below MI $168,900±$10kHighest 27% below MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $775±$247Lowest 31% below MI $1,333±$397Highest 18% above MI
Wilber Township and Bates Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,786Highest 38% below MI $1,489Lowest 49% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 80%±8.7Highest MI: 50.4% 12.5%±100Lowest MI: 50.4%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.5%Highest MI: 13.2% 14.2%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 92.7%Lowest MI: 73.2% 96.8%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1972Lowest same as MI 1978Highest 6 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest 17% above MI 26 minLowest 6% above MI
Work from home 15.2%±11.1Highest MI: 13.5% 6.6%±4.8Lowest MI: 13.5%
Bates Township and Wilber Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.7%Highest 0%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.8 miLowest 29.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.11Lowest 0.39Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Iron River (18%)Au Sable Township (12%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Wilber TownshipFew work in Bates Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 38.1%Lowest 62.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 112.3 miLowest 164.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.9 miLowest 2.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 0.8Lowest 1.1Highest
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.

Bates Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bates Township’s Town Square.

Wilber Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wilber Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Bates Township

H
+ Compare
Hematite Township292 people · $88K homes
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Iron River Township861 people · $154K homes
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Stambaugh Township1,223 people · $188K homes
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Crystal Falls Township1,717 people · $181K homes

Towns like Bates Township

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+ Compare
Lakefield Township1,141 people · $173K homes
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+ Compare
Forester Township970 people · $192K homes
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Green Township961 people · $167K homes
H
+ Compare
Haynes Township777 people · $196K 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.

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