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Burns Township vs Brooks Township

97 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (5.9× in Brooks Township) and growth since 2010 (+10.7 pts in Brooks Township).

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Burns Township, MIKnown for its schoolsShiawassee County · 3,283 people
B ×
Brooks Township, MIAn outdoors townNewaygo County · 3,771 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.

Burns TownshipKnown for its schools
Schools#239 for schools in MIof 493 towns Health53% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates HistorySettled in 18351 place on the National Register All about Burns Township →
Brooks TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors#32 most conserved land in MI27 miles of trails across 7 parks and preserves Health74% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Brooks 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.

Trails5.9×
Brooks Township has more miles of trail
Brooks Township 27.2 miBurns Township 4.6 mi
Growth since 2010+10.7 pts
Brooks Township has grown faster since 2010
Brooks Township +5.6%Burns Township -5.1%
Conserved land+20.9 pts
Brooks Township has more conserved land
Brooks Township 23.2%Burns Township 2.3%
Street grid+88%
Brooks Township has the more walkable street grid
Brooks Township 4.5Burns Township 2.4
Property tax bill+25%
Tax bills are bigger in Brooks Township
Brooks Township $2,426Burns Township $1,943
Seasonal homes+13 pts
Brooks Township has more second homes
Brooks Township 18.3%Burns Township 5.3%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Brooks Township places higher on 11 of 19 MI lists

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.

Schools
BBurns TownshipBetter than 64% of districts in the state –Brooks TownshipNot graded
Health
B−Burns TownshipHealthier than 47% of U.S. towns CBrooks TownshipHealthier than 26% of U.S. towns
8Burns Township
11Brooks Township

Lists won, of 19 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most conserved landOutdoors · 712 towns #508#32 Fastest growingGrowth · 723 towns #651#186 Fewest uninsuredHealth · 723 towns #163#529 Most trailsOutdoors · 601 towns #477#191 Highest graduation rateSchools · 540 towns #256#6 Most activeHealth · 723 towns #287#556 Fewest smokersHealth · 723 towns #307#571 Lowest depressionHealth · 723 towns #439#233

Left end = #1 in Michigan. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Burns Township’s rankings →

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.

Burns Township$1,400/mo
Typical home $236K (Census) · tax rate 0.82% · or rent about $1,359/mo · Housing →
Brooks Township$1,480/mo
Typical home $244K (Census) · tax rate 0.99% · or rent about $1,167/mo · Housing →

The difference: $80 a month, about $1,000 a year, between Brooks Township and Burns 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.

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
Burns TownshipBrooks Township
Snow a year52″64″
January low16°F—
July high82°F—
Growing season (days)155d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)34th31st
Outdoors & history
Burns TownshipBrooks Township
Trails5 mi27 mi
Conserved land2.3%23.2%
Settled1835—
National Register places1—
Community
Burns TownshipBrooks Township
Library hours a week22 hrs—
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

97 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Burns TownshipShiawassee CountyBrooks TownshipNewaygo County
Burns Township ↔ Brooks Township97 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.

Burns TownshipBrooks Township
People
Population 3,283Lowest 3,771Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.1%Lowest MI: +2% +5.6%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 45.7±3Highest 14% above MI 45.4±5.9Lowest 13% above MI
Burns Township and Brooks Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 18.5%±4.2Highest MI: 21.2% 17.7%±3.9Lowest MI: 21.2%
Burns Township and Brooks Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.2%±3.6Lowest MI: 18.6% 19.6%±4.3Highest MI: 18.6%
Brooks Township and Burns Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.2%Lowest MI: 32.4% 21.6%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.1%±1.9Highest MI: 6.1% 1.6%±1.3Lowest MI: 6.1%
Burns Township and Brooks Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $83,750±$25kHighest 15% above MI $77,734±$17kLowest 7% above MI
Burns Township and Brooks Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $236,200±$14kLowest about the MI average $244,100±$43kHighest 5% above MI
Brooks Township and Burns Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,359±$235Highest 20% above MI $1,167±$567Lowest 3% above MI
Burns Township and Brooks Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,943Lowest 33% below MI $2,426Highest 16% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 57.3%±8.8Highest MI: 50.4% 56.2%±41.2Lowest MI: 50.4%
Burns Township and Brooks Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8.8%Highest MI: 13.2% 7.7%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 91.9%Lowest MI: 73.2% 92.1%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1974Lowest 2 yrs newer than MI 1976Highest 4 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 40 minHighest 63% above MI 34 minLowest 42% above MI
Work from home 9.1%±5.6Lowest MI: 13.5% 10.5%±4.9Highest MI: 13.5%
Brooks Township and Burns Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 5.6%Highest 1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 22.8 miLowest 28.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.20Highest 0.14Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Howell (4%)Grand Rapids (13%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Brooks TownshipFew work in Burns Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.3%Lowest 23.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 4.6 miLowest 27.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 0.8 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 7Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.4Lowest 4.5Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #239 of 493 in MI—
School district Byron Area Schools—
High school in town Byron Area High School—
Students per teacherat that high school 16.0 —
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.

Burns Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Burns Township’s Town Square.

Brooks Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Brooks Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Burns Township

A
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Antrim Township1,886 people · $230K homes
A
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Argentine Township7,028 people · $277K homes
V
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Vernon Township4,296 people · $169K homes
C
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Cohoctah Township3,230 people · $347K homes

Towns like Burns Township

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Leroy Township3,676 people · $245K homes
S
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Spencer Township4,200 people · $229K homes
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North Branch Township3,550 people · $228K homes
F
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Forest Township4,404 people · $201K 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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