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Emerson Township vs Arcada Township

Next-door neighbors in Gratiot County. The biggest differences: jobs per worker (2.8× in Emerson Township) and property tax bill (+45% in Arcada Township).

E ×
Emerson Township, MIA small town of 751Gratiot County · 751 people
A ×
Arcada Township, MIA small town of 1,684Gratiot County · 1,684 people
Swap order
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.

Emerson TownshipA small town of 751
Quiet strengthsEmerson Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Emerson Township →
Arcada TownshipA small town of 1,684
Quiet strengthsArcada Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Arcada 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 worker2.8×
Emerson Township is more of a job hub
Emerson Township 0.37Arcada Township 0.13
Property tax bill+45%
Tax bills are bigger in Arcada Township
Arcada Township $2,568Emerson Township $1,771
Bachelor’s degree++21.8 pts
More adults in Arcada Township have a degree
Arcada Township 38.2%Emerson Township 16.4%
Growth since 2010+10.2 pts
Arcada Township has grown faster since 2010
Arcada Township -0.6%Emerson Township -10.8%
Trails+80%
Arcada Township has more miles of trail
Arcada Township 0.9 miEmerson Township 0.5 mi
Typical home built17 yrs
Emerson Township’s homes are older
Arcada Township 1975Emerson Township 1958
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $250 more a month in Arcada 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.

Emerson Township$1,110/mo
Typical home $184K (Census) · tax rate 0.96% · or rent about $825/mo · Housing →
Arcada Township$1,360/mo
Typical home $219K (Census) · tax rate 1.17% · or rent about $725/mo · Housing →

The difference: $250 a month, about $3,000 a year, between Arcada Township and Emerson 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

Emerson Township and Arcada Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Emerson TownshipArcada TownshipEmerson TownshipArcada Township
Emerson Township ↔ Arcada Township7.0 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
–Emerson TownshipNot graded C+Arcada TownshipHealthier than 41% 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
Emerson TownshipArcada Township
Snow a year39″39″
January low15°F15°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)164d164d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)49th49th
Outdoors & history
Emerson TownshipArcada Township
Trails—1 mi
Conserved land—1.2%
Community
Emerson TownshipArcada 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.

Emerson TownshipArcada Township
People
Population 751Lowest 1,684Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -10.8%Lowest MI: +2% -0.6%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 47.2±5Highest 17% above MI 45±6.9Lowest 12% above MI
Emerson Township and Arcada Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.9%±4Lowest MI: 21.2% 18.3%±3.5Highest MI: 21.2%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 22.2%±3.2Highest MI: 18.6% 19.9%±2.9Lowest MI: 18.6%
Emerson Township and Arcada Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.4%Lowest MI: 32.4% 38.2%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.4%±1.8Lowest MI: 6.1% 6.7%±4.7Highest MI: 6.1%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $78,000±$13kLowest 7% above MI $88,523±$12kHighest 21% above MI
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $183,700±$22kLowest 21% below MI $218,900±$19kHighest 5% below MI
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $825±$222Highest 27% below MI $725±$446Lowest 36% below MI
Emerson Township and Arcada Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,771Lowest 39% below MI $2,568Highest 12% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 15.8%±100Lowest MI: 50.4% 61.3%±61.1Highest MI: 50.4%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.5%Lowest MI: 13.2% 12.9%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 88.4%Lowest MI: 73.2% 95%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1958Lowest 14 yrs older than MI 1975Highest 3 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minHighest about the MI average 22 minLowest 8% below MI
Work from home 10.6%±4.5Lowest MI: 13.5% 15.6%±7Highest MI: 13.5%
Arcada Township and Emerson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1.6%Highest 0.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miHighest 13.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.37Highest 0.13Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Alma (17%)Alma (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Arcada TownshipFew work in Emerson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1%Lowest 1.2%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.5 miLowest 0.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.9Lowest 2.0Highest
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.

Emerson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Emerson Township’s Town Square.

Arcada Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Arcada Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Emerson Township

I
+ Compare
Ithaca2,817 people · $133K homes
B
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Bethany Township1,162 people · $172K homes
L
+ Compare
Lafayette Township573 people · $164K homes
N
+ Compare
North Star Township867 people · $184K homes

Towns like Emerson Township

N
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Norwich Township712 people · $170K homes
G
+ Compare
Grant Township746 people · $183K homes
L
+ Compare
Litchfield Township873 people · $199K homes
J
+ Compare
Jordan Township907 people · $206K 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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