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Clio vs Clare

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

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

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

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 →

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 →

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

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

Schools

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

Health

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

Clio$1,510/mo

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

Clare$1,580/mo

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

ClioClare

Snow a year40″49″

January low16°F 13°F

July high82°F 82°F

Growing season (days)162d 148d

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

Outdoors & history

ClioClare

Trails0 mi 1 mi

Conserved land3%2.6%

Settled1837 1870

National Register places2 2

Archive photos5 —

Famous people born here4 —

Community

ClioClare

Library hours a week—46 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.

ClioMI ClareMI

Clio ↔ Clare68 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

ClioClare

People

Population 2,185Lowest 3,324Highest

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

Median age 47.9±9.7Highest 19% above MI 43.9±4.7Lowest 9% 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 19.5%±6.5Lowest MI: 21.2% 20.2%±5.5Highest 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+ 23.5%±5.1Highest MI: 18.6% 23.1%±5.4Lowest 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+ 23.1%Highest MI: 32.4% 21.9%Lowest MI: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2%±3Lowest MI: 6.1% 8.4%±4Highest 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 $52,500±$6kHighest 28% below MI $41,226±$11kLowest 43% 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 $138,200±$27kHighest 40% below MI $134,600±$31kLowest 42% 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 $790±$112Lowest 30% below MI $822±$64Highest 27% 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 $2,596Lowest 11% below MI $2,734Highest 6% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 43.6%±15.9Highest MI: 50.4% 39.5%±16.5Lowest 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 20%Highest MI: 13.2% 18.9%Lowest MI: 13.2%

Housing

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

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

Getting to work

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

Work from home 3.9%±3.3Lowest MI: 13.5% 11.5%±7.4Highest 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 2.7%Lowest 16.6%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.3 miHighest 16.3 miLowest

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

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

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ClareFew work in Clio

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 3%Highest 2.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 1.2 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 mi 0.3 mi

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 8Highest

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

Schools

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

School district Clio Area School DistrictClare Public Schools

High school in town None in townClare High School

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.

Clio neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clio’s Town Square.

Clare neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Clare’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Clio and Clare

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Towns like Clio

Bad Axe2,992 people · $125K homes

Stockbridge1,383 people · $193K homes

Gladwin3,098 people · $127K homes

St. Ignace2,463 people · $132K 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.