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Bushnell Township vs Fairplain Township

Next-door neighbors in Montcalm County. The biggest differences: trails (11.1× in Fairplain Township) and conserved land (+20.3 pts in Fairplain Township).

B ×
Bushnell Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsMontcalm County · 1,516 people
F ×
Fairplain Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsMontcalm County · 1,896 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.

Bushnell TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health84% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Bushnell Township →
Fairplain TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health79% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors21.7% conserved land10 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Fairplain 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.

Trails11.1×
Fairplain Township has more miles of trail
Fairplain Township 10.0 miBushnell Township 0.9 mi
Conserved land+20.3 pts
Fairplain Township has more conserved land
Fairplain Township 21.7%Bushnell Township 1.4%
Kids under 18+10.1 pts
Bushnell Township has more kids
Bushnell Township 29.5%Fairplain Township 19.4%
Homeowners+15.5 pts renters
Fairplain Township has more renters
Bushnell Township 93.6%Fairplain Township 78.1%
Average commute7 min
Fairplain Township has the shorter commute
Bushnell Township 34 minFairplain Township 27 min
Rent+17%
Rent runs higher in Fairplain Township
Fairplain Township $1,103Bushnell Township $946
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

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

Bushnell Township$1,200/mo
Typical home $199K (Census) · tax rate 0.91% · or rent about $946/mo · Housing →
Fairplain Township$1,010/mo
Typical home $162K (Census) · tax rate 1.19% · or rent about $1,103/mo · Housing →

The difference: $190 a month, about $2,200 a year, between Bushnell Township and Fairplain 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

Bushnell Township and Fairplain Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Bushnell TownshipFairplain TownshipBushnell TownshipFairplain Township
Bushnell Township ↔ Fairplain Township6.2 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−Bushnell TownshipHealthier than 16% of U.S. towns C−Fairplain TownshipHealthier than 21% of U.S. towns
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
Bushnell TownshipFairplain Township
Snow a year73″73″
January low13°F13°F
July high84°F84°F
Growing season (days)133d133d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th13th
Outdoors & history
Bushnell TownshipFairplain Township
Trails1 mi10 mi
Conserved land1.4%21.7%
Famous people born here1—
Community
Bushnell TownshipFairplain 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.

Bushnell TownshipFairplain Township
People
Population 1,516Lowest 1,896Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.5%Lowest MI: +2% -1.9%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 35.3±8Lowest 12% below MI 43.2±6.7Highest 7% above MI
Fairplain Township and Bushnell Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 29.5%±3.4Highest MI: 21.2% 19.4%±4.3Lowest MI: 21.2%
Age 65+ 16.6%±1.4Highest MI: 18.6% 15.2%±2.4Lowest MI: 18.6%
Bushnell Township and Fairplain Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 13.3%Lowest MI: 32.4% 18%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.7%±1.7Highest MI: 6.1% 1.7%±1.6Lowest MI: 6.1%
Bushnell Township and Fairplain Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $65,500±$10kHighest 10% below MI $56,406±$9kLowest 23% below MI
Bushnell Township and Fairplain Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $199,100±$44kHighest 14% below MI $162,000±$27kLowest 30% below MI
Bushnell Township and Fairplain Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $946±$71Lowest 16% below MI $1,103±$79Highest about the MI average
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,815Lowest 38% below MI $1,920Highest 34% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100Lowest MI: 50.4% 50%±34.4Highest MI: 50.4%
Fairplain Township and Bushnell Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 10%Lowest MI: 13.2% 17.9%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 93.6%Highest MI: 73.2% 78.1%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1981Lowest 9 yrs newer than MI 1985Highest 13 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 34 minHighest 40% above MI 27 minLowest 10% above MI
Work from home 9.8%±3.6Highest MI: 13.5% 5.7%±3.6Lowest MI: 13.5%
Bushnell Township and Fairplain Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.5%Lowest 1.3%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 33.3 miHighest 26.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.18Lowest 0.20Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Carson City (7%)Greenville (14%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Fairplain TownshipFew work in Bushnell Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.4%Lowest 21.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.9 miLowest 10.0 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.3 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2 2
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.1Lowest 2.8Highest
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.

Bushnell Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bushnell Township’s Town Square.

Fairplain Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Fairplain Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Bushnell Township

R
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Ronald Township1,823 people · $172K homes
E
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Evergreen Township3,001 people · $195K homes
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Bloomer Township6,327 people · $194K homes

Towns like Bushnell Township

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Maple Valley Township1,309 people · $221K homes
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Denver Township1,562 people · $152K homes
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Ossineke Township1,849 people · $170K homes
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Le Roy Township1,705 people · $188K 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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