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Freeman Township vs Hamilton Township

18 miles apart in Clare County. The biggest differences: trails (2.7× in Freeman Township) and home values (+36% in Freeman Township).

F ×
Freeman Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsClare County · 1,431 people
H ×
Hamilton Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsClare County · 1,799 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.

Freeman TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health84% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Freeman Township →
Hamilton TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health91% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Hamilton Township →
The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails2.7×
Freeman Township has more miles of trail
Freeman Township 41.4 miHamilton Township 15.3 mi
Home values+36%
Homes cost more in Freeman Township
Freeman Township $150,600Hamilton Township $110,500
Average commute7 min
Hamilton Township has the shorter commute
Freeman Township 36 minHamilton Township 29 min
Typical home built21 yrs
Hamilton Township’s homes are older
Freeman Township 1991Hamilton Township 1970
Jobs per worker+75%
Freeman Township is more of a job hub
Freeman Township 0.07Hamilton Township 0.04
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $210 more a month in Freeman 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.

Freeman Township$910/mo
Typical home $151K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $827/mo · Housing →
Hamilton Township$700/mo
Typical home $111K (Census) · tax rate 1.29% · or rent about $725/mo · Housing →

The difference: $210 a month, about $2,500 a year, between Freeman Township and Hamilton 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.

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−Freeman TownshipHealthier than 16% of U.S. towns DHamilton TownshipHealthier than 9% 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
Freeman TownshipHamilton Township
Snow a year—49″
January low—13°F
July high—82°F
Growing season (days)—148d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)17th21st
Outdoors & history
Freeman TownshipHamilton Township
Trails41 mi15 mi
Conserved land10.6%5.4%
Settled—1885
Archive photos23
Community
Freeman TownshipHamilton 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.

Where they are

18 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Freeman TownshipHamilton TownshipFreeman TownshipHamilton Township
Freeman Township ↔ Hamilton Township18 miles apart · Same county
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.

Freeman TownshipHamilton Township
People
Population 1,431Lowest 1,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.8%Lowest MI: +2% -2.4%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 54±5Highest 34% above MI 53.4±2.3Lowest 33% above MI
Freeman Township and Hamilton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 17.1%±3.5Highest MI: 21.2% 16.5%±3.4Lowest MI: 21.2%
Freeman Township and Hamilton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 28.7%±6.3Lowest MI: 18.6% 32.4%±2.9Highest MI: 18.6%
Hamilton Township and Freeman Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 11.2%Highest MI: 32.4% 6.9%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.3%±1.3Highest MI: 6.1% 0.8%±1.2Lowest MI: 6.1%
Freeman Township and Hamilton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $54,063±$7kHighest 26% below MI $45,096±$12kLowest 38% below MI
Freeman Township and Hamilton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $150,600±$17kHighest 35% below MI $110,500±$15kLowest 52% below MI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $827±$55Highest 27% below MI $725±$379Lowest 36% below MI
Freeman Township and Hamilton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,438Highest 50% below MI $1,425Lowest 51% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 27.3%±76.8Lowest MI: 50.4% 50%±75Highest MI: 50.4%
Hamilton Township and Freeman 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% 32%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 95.7%Highest MI: 73.2% 95.5%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1991Highest 19 yrs newer than MI 1970Lowest 2 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 36 minHighest 50% above MI 29 minLowest 21% above MI
Work from home 16%±7.4Highest MI: 13.5% 8.5%±7.6Lowest MI: 13.5%
Freeman Township and Hamilton Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 1%Highest 0.4%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 31.8 miLowest 32.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.07Highest 0.04Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Clare (8%)Clare (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Hamilton TownshipFew work in Freeman Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 10.6%Highest 5.4%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 41.4 miHighest 15.3 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.2 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.7 3.7
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.

Freeman Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freeman Township’s Town Square.

Hamilton Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hamilton Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Freeman Township

G
+ Compare
Garfield Township1,907 people · $172K homes
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+ Compare
Lincoln Township1,410 people · $144K homes
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Redding Township409 people · $85K homes
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Sylvan Township1,104 people · $119K homes

Towns like Freeman Township

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Grant Township1,617 people · $127K homes
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Greenwood Township1,218 people · $182K homes
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+ Compare
Hay Township1,412 people · $150K homes
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+ Compare
Lake Township911 people · $170K 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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