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Elk Township vs Sauble Township

Next-door neighbors in Lake County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (12.3× in Sauble Township) and household income (+51% in Elk Township).

E ×
Elk Township, MIAn outdoors townLake County · 869 people
S ×
Sauble Township, MIAn outdoors townLake County · 404 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.

Elk TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors38.7% conserved land36 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves Health82% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Elk Township →
Sauble TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors53.9% conserved land69 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves All about Sauble 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.

Jobs per worker12.3×
Sauble Township is more of a job hub
Sauble Township 0.49Elk Township 0.04
Household income+51%
Households in Elk Township earn more
Elk Township $56,438Sauble Township $37,500
Street grid2.5×
Elk Township has the more walkable street grid
Elk Township 2.8Sauble Township 1.1
Conserved land+15.2 pts
Sauble Township has more conserved land
Sauble Township 53.9%Elk Township 38.7%
Trails+94%
Sauble Township has more miles of trail
Sauble Township 69.4 miElk Township 35.8 mi
Age 65++5.8 pts
Elk Township has more people 65 and up
Elk Township 43.4%Sauble Township 37.6%
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $160 more a month in Sauble 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.

Elk Township$1,110/mo
Typical home $182K (Census) · tax rate 1.04% · Housing →
Sauble Township$1,280/mo
Typical home $215K (Census) · tax rate 0.84% · Housing →

The difference: $160 a month, about $2,000 a year, between Sauble Township and Elk 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

Elk Township and Sauble Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Elk TownshipSauble TownshipElk TownshipSauble Township
Elk Township ↔ Sauble Township6.4 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−Elk TownshipHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns –Sauble TownshipNot graded
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
Elk TownshipSauble Township
Snow a year93″120″
January low—12°F
July high—81°F
Growing season (days)—119d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)33rd33rd
Outdoors & history
Elk TownshipSauble Township
Trails36 mi69 mi
Conserved land38.7%53.9%
Community
Elk TownshipSauble 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.

Elk TownshipSauble Township
People
Population 869Highest 404Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.6% MI: +2% —
Median age 63.3±1.9Highest 57% above MI 59.6±5.2Lowest 48% above MI
Elk Township and Sauble Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 2.2%±2.2Lowest MI: 21.2% 10.1%±5.8Highest MI: 21.2%
Sauble Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 43.4%±3.3Highest MI: 18.6% 37.6%±2Lowest MI: 18.6%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 18.8%Highest MI: 32.4% 18.4%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.3%±3.5Lowest MI: 6.1% 4%±2.9Highest MI: 6.1%
Sauble Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $56,438±$6kHighest 23% below MI $37,500±$6kLowest 49% below MI
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $181,900±$49kLowest 21% below MI $214,800±$31kHighest 7% below MI
Sauble Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,886Highest 35% below MI $1,795Lowest 38% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±100Lowest MI: 50.4% 100%±100Highest MI: 50.4%
Sauble Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 9.9%Lowest MI: 13.2% 22.8%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 97.4%Highest MI: 73.2% 91.3%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1986Highest 14 yrs newer than MI 1978Lowest 6 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minLowest 29% above MI 35 minHighest 46% above MI
Work from home 15.5%±6.7Lowest MI: 13.5% 16.1%±9.1Highest MI: 13.5%
Sauble Township and Elk Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.4%Lowest 2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 32.3 miLowest 38.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.04Lowest 0.49Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Norman Township (6%)Manistee Township (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Sauble TownshipFew work in Elk Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 38.7%Lowest 53.9%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 35.8 miLowest 69.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.0 miLowest 2.0 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Lowest 5Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.8Highest 1.1Lowest
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.

Elk Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Elk Township’s Town Square.

Sauble Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sauble Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Elk Township

E
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Eden Township351 people · $163K homes
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Norman Township1,704 people · $157K homes
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Meade Township122 people · $241K homes

Towns like Elk Township

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Secord Township984 people · $219K homes
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Lovells Township672 people · $204K homes
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Moffatt Township1,112 people · $172K homes
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Foster Township851 people · $150K 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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