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Clare vs Clio

68 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (4× in Clare) and jobs per worker (3.3× in Clare).

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Clare, MIHomes around $228KMichigan · 3,324 people

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Clio, MIOne of the healthiest townsMichigan · 2,185 people

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.

ClareHomes around $228K

Housing$228K typical home14% below the MI typical home Work1,931 jobsbased in Clare, a regional job hub

Outdoors#218 most walkable in MI1.2 miles of trails across 8 parks and preserves All about Clare →

ClioOne of the healthiest towns

Health78% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates

HistorySettled in 18372 places on the National Register All about Clio →

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.

Clare has more miles of trail

Clare 1.2 miClio 0.3 mi

Jobs per worker3.3×

Clare is more of a job hub

Clare 1.72Clio 0.52

Growth since 2010+9 pts

Clare has grown faster since 2010

Clare +4.4%Clio -4.6%

Work in town+13.9 pts

More of Clare’s workers stay in town

Clare 16.6%Clio 2.7%

Street grid+67%

Clio has the more walkable street grid

Clio 67.5Clare 40.4

Average commute6 min

Clare has the shorter commute

Clio 33 minClare 27 min

★ What stands out · 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.

Safety

BClareSafer than 58% of U.S. towns B−ClioSafer than 45% of U.S. towns

Schools

B−ClareBetter than 54% of districts in the state BClioBetter than 55% of districts in the state

Health

DClareHealthier than 12% of U.S. towns C−ClioHealthier than 22% of U.S. towns

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.

Down paymentRate%

Clare$1,580/mo

Typical home $228K (Zillow) · tax rate 2.03% · or rent about $822/mo · Housing →

Clio$1,510/mo

Typical home $222K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.88% · or rent about $790/mo · Housing →

The difference: $70 a month, about $800 a year, between Clare and Clio.

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

ClareClio

Snow a year49″40″

January low13°F 16°F

July high82°F 82°F

Growing season (days)148d 162d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)14th 13th

Outdoors & history

ClareClio

Trails1 mi 0 mi

Conserved land2.6%3%

Settled1870 1837

National Register places2 2

Archive photos—5

Famous people born here—4

Community

ClareClio

Library hours a week46 hrs —

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.

Where they are

68 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ClareMI ClioMI

Clare ↔ Clio68 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.

Only big differences vs Michigan average

ClareClio

People

Population 3,324Highest 2,185Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.4%Highest MI: +2% -4.6%Lowest MI: +2%

Median age 43.9±4.7Lowest 9% above MI 47.9±9.7Highest 19% above MI

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

Kids under 18 20.2%±5.5Highest MI: 21.2% 19.5%±6.5Lowest MI: 21.2%

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

Age 65+ 23.1%±5.4Lowest MI: 18.6% 23.5%±5.1Highest MI: 18.6%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.9%Lowest MI: 32.4% 23.1%Highest MI: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 8.4%±4Highest MI: 6.1% 2%±3Lowest MI: 6.1%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $41,226±$11kLowest 43% below MI $52,500±$6kHighest 28% below MI

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $134,600±$31kLowest 42% below MI $138,200±$27kHighest 40% below MI

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $822±$64Highest 27% below MI $790±$112Lowest 30% below MI

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,734Highest 6% below MI $2,596Lowest 11% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 39.5%±16.5Lowest MI: 50.4% 43.6%±15.9Highest MI: 50.4%

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

Below poverty line 18.9%Lowest MI: 13.2% 20%Highest MI: 13.2%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 59.3%Highest MI: 73.2% 54.5%Lowest MI: 73.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1966Lowest 6 yrs older than MI 1972Highest same as MI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 27 minLowest 10% above MI 33 minHighest 36% above MI

Work from home 11.5%±7.4Highest MI: 13.5% 3.9%±3.3Lowest MI: 13.5%

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

Work in townworking residents 16.6%Highest 2.7%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 16.3 miLowest 20.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.72Highest 0.52Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Mount Pleasant (10%)Flint (10%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ClioFew work in Clare

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.6%Lowest 3%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 1.2 miHighest 0.3 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 mi 0.3 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 8Highest 2Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 40.4Lowest 67.5Highest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #295 of 493 in MI—

School district Clare Public SchoolsClio Area School District

High school in town Clare High SchoolNone in town

Students per teacherat that high school 19.0 —

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.

Clare neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clare’s Town Square.

Clio neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clio’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Clare and Clio

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Bordering Clare

Grant Township3,416 people · $156K homes

Vernon Township1,271 people · $204K homes

Towns like Clare

Caro4,290 people · $103K homes

Bad Axe2,992 people · $125K homes

Cheboygan4,820 people · $123K homes

Kalkaska2,539 people · $156K 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.