Guest, Sign inJoin
Compare towns

Ferry Township vs Otto Township

Next-door neighbors in Oceana County. The biggest differences: conserved land (+42.9 pts in Otto Township) and trails (2.7× in Otto Township).

F ×
Ferry Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsOceana County · 1,302 people
O ×
Otto Township, MIAn outdoors townOceana County · 864 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.

Ferry TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health82% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Ferry Township →
Otto TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors53% conserved land64 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Otto 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.

Conserved land+42.9 pts
Otto Township has more conserved land
Otto Township 53%Ferry Township 10.1%
Trails2.7×
Otto Township has more miles of trail
Otto Township 63.6 miFerry Township 23.7 mi
Growth since 2010+5.5 pts
Otto Township has grown faster since 2010
Otto Township +3.9%Ferry Township -1.6%
Street grid+53%
Ferry Township has the more walkable street grid
Ferry Township 2.3Otto Township 1.5
Homeowners+10.5 pts renters
Ferry Township has more renters
Otto Township 95.4%Ferry Township 84.9%
Jobs per worker+60%
Ferry Township is more of a job hub
Ferry Township 0.08Otto Township 0.05
★ What stands out · 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.

Ferry Township$1,170/mo
Typical home $202K (Census) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $1,063/mo · Housing →
Otto Township$1,030/mo
Typical home $171K (Census) · tax rate 0.93% · Housing →

The difference: $140 a month, about $1,700 a year, between Ferry Township and Otto 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

Ferry Township and Otto Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Ferry TownshipOtto TownshipFerry TownshipOtto Township
Ferry Township ↔ Otto Township7.4 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−Ferry TownshipHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns –Otto 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
Ferry TownshipOtto Township
Snow a year75″75″
January low14°F14°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)137d137d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)45th45th
Outdoors & history
Ferry TownshipOtto Township
Trails24 mi64 mi
Conserved land10.1%53%
Settled1869—
Community
Ferry TownshipOtto 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.

Ferry TownshipOtto Township
People
Population 1,302Highest 864Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.6%Lowest MI: +2% +3.9%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 41.3±5.3Lowest about the MI average 41.5±6.6Highest 3% above MI
Otto Township and Ferry Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 20.8%±2.9Lowest MI: 21.2% 23.1%±5.6Highest MI: 21.2%
Otto Township and Ferry Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.3%±4.4Highest MI: 18.6% 13.5%±3.1Lowest MI: 18.6%
Ferry Township and Otto Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 16.9%Highest MI: 32.4% 12.1%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.5%±2Highest MI: 6.1% 0.7%±1.6Lowest MI: 6.1%
Ferry Township and Otto Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $54,601±$11kLowest 25% below MI $69,583±$16kHighest 5% below MI
Otto Township and Ferry Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $201,800±$65kHighest 13% below MI $170,700±$28kLowest 26% below MI
Ferry Township and Otto Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,063±$248 6% below MI —
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,352Lowest 53% below MI $1,582Highest 46% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 12.5%±32.8Highest MI: 50.4% 0%±100Lowest MI: 50.4%
Ferry Township and Otto Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.9%Lowest MI: 13.2% 13.4%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 84.9%Lowest MI: 73.2% 95.4%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1984Lowest 12 yrs newer than MI 1996Highest 24 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 30 minLowest 24% above MI 32 minHighest 33% above MI
Work from home 5.2%±2.2Lowest MI: 13.5% 11.9%±7.7Highest MI: 13.5%
Otto Township and Ferry Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.7%Highest 0.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 25.8 miHighest 22.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.08Highest 0.05Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Fremont (9%)Muskegon (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Otto TownshipFew work in Ferry Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 10.1%Lowest 53%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 23.7 miLowest 63.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miLowest 1.8 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.3Highest 1.5Lowest
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.

Ferry Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ferry Township’s Town Square.

Otto Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Otto Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Ferry Township and Otto Township

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

Bordering Ferry Township

S
+ Compare
Shelby Township4,116 people · $181K homes
N
+ Compare
Newfield Township2,381 people · $170K homes
E
+ Compare
Elbridge Township981 people · $208K homes

Towns like Ferry Township

S
+ Compare
Sand Beach Township1,148 people · $206K homes
M
+ Compare
Millbrook Township1,166 people · $195K homes
F
+ Compare
Ferris Township1,428 people · $175K homes
S
+ Compare
Speaker Township1,370 people · $182K 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.

Post to Ferry Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in