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Calvin Township vs Porter Township

Next-door neighbors in Cass County. The biggest differences: trails (19.2× in Porter Township) and jobs per worker (6.3× in Porter Township).

C ×
Calvin Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsCass County · 1,593 people
P ×
Porter Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsCass County · 3,885 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.

Calvin TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health69% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Calvin Township →
Porter TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Porter 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.

Trails19.2×
Porter Township has more miles of trail
Porter Township 9.6 miCalvin Township 0.5 mi
Jobs per worker6.3×
Porter Township is more of a job hub
Porter Township 0.19Calvin Township 0.03
Property tax bill2.3×
Tax bills are bigger in Porter Township
Porter Township $3,329Calvin Township $1,450
Home values+34%
Homes cost more in Porter Township
Porter Township $300,800Calvin Township $223,800
Size2.4×
Porter Township is the bigger place
Porter Township 3,885Calvin Township 1,593
Average commute4 min
Porter Township has the shorter commute
Calvin Township 25 minPorter Township 21 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $560 more a month in Porter 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.

Calvin Township$1,290/mo
Typical home $224K (Census) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $797/mo · Housing →
Porter Township$1,850/mo
Typical home $301K (Census) · tax rate 1.11% · or rent about $834/mo · Housing →

The difference: $560 a month, about $6,700 a year, between Porter Township and Calvin 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

Calvin Township and Porter Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Calvin TownshipPorter TownshipCalvin TownshipPorter Township
Calvin Township ↔ Porter Township5.5 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
CCalvin TownshipHealthier than 31% of U.S. towns C+Porter TownshipHealthier than 37% 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
Calvin TownshipPorter Township
Snow a year41″41″
January low17°F17°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)170d170d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)13th15th
Outdoors & history
Calvin TownshipPorter Township
Trails1 mi10 mi
Conserved land1.1%2.4%
Settled1835—
Famous people born here—1
Community
Calvin TownshipPorter Township
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined01

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.

Calvin TownshipPorter Township
People
Population 1,593Lowest 3,885Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.2%Lowest MI: +2% -1.3%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 49.2±7.2Lowest 22% above MI 49.5±4.3Highest 23% above MI
Porter Township and Calvin Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 21.3%±5.3Highest MI: 21.2% 19.8%±4.3Lowest MI: 21.2%
Calvin Township and Porter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 26.5%±3.4Lowest MI: 18.6% 27.5%±5.4Highest MI: 18.6%
Porter Township and Calvin Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 28.1%Highest MI: 32.4% 27%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4%±3.9Highest MI: 6.1% 1.9%±1.6Lowest MI: 6.1%
Calvin Township and Porter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $80,813±$12kHighest 11% above MI $79,681±$9kLowest 9% above MI
Calvin Township and Porter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $223,800±$19kLowest 3% below MI $300,800±$43kHighest 30% above MI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $797±$734Lowest 29% below MI $834±$53Highest 26% below MI
Porter Township and Calvin Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,450Lowest 50% below MI $3,329Highest 15% above MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 89.4%±94.2Highest MI: 50.4% 16.7%±11.8Lowest MI: 50.4%
Calvin Township and Porter Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 8.7%Lowest MI: 13.2% 10.7%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 85.3%Highest MI: 73.2% 83.5%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1986Highest 14 yrs newer than MI 1974Lowest 2 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minHighest 5% above MI 21 minLowest 13% below MI
Work from home 6.1%±4.1Highest MI: 13.5% 5.8%±3.1Lowest MI: 13.5%
Calvin Township and Porter 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 5.8%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 17.3 miHighest 14.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.03Lowest 0.19Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Elkhart (16%)Elkhart (24%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Porter TownshipFew work in Calvin Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.1%Lowest 2.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.5 miLowest 9.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 2Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.8 3.8
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.

Calvin Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Calvin Township’s Town Square.

Porter Township neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Missing Local Spots

1 neighbor in Porter Township can answer.

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Bordering Calvin Township

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Jefferson Township2,578 people · $269K homes
M
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Mason Township2,836 people · $205K homes
P
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Penn Township2,052 people · $304K homes

Towns like Calvin Township

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Fredonia Township1,571 people · $214K homes
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South Arm Township1,911 people · $262K homes
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Banks Township1,464 people · $249K homes
B
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Baldwin Township1,871 people · $181K 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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