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Freeman Township vs Sylvan Township

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (9.4× in Freeman Township) and jobs per worker (3.7× in Sylvan Township).

F ×
Freeman Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsClare County · 1,431 people
S ×
Sylvan Township, MIAn outdoors townOsceola County · 1,104 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 →
Sylvan TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors#79 most conserved land in MI4.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves Health81% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Sylvan 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.

Trails9.4×
Freeman Township has more miles of trail
Freeman Township 41.4 miSylvan Township 4.4 mi
Jobs per worker3.7×
Sylvan Township is more of a job hub
Sylvan Township 0.26Freeman Township 0.07
Work from home+13.4 pts
More people work from home in Freeman Township
Freeman Township 16%Sylvan Township 2.6%
Average commute12 min
Sylvan Township has the shorter commute
Freeman Township 36 minSylvan Township 25 min
Rent+29%
Rent runs higher in Sylvan Township
Sylvan Township $1,067Freeman Township $827
Street grid+95%
Freeman Township has the more walkable street grid
Freeman Township 3.7Sylvan Township 1.9
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $170 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 →
Sylvan Township$740/mo
Typical home $119K (Census) · tax rate 1.21% · or rent about $1,067/mo · Housing →

The difference: $170 a month, about $2,000 a year, between Freeman Township and Sylvan 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

Freeman Township and Sylvan Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Freeman TownshipSylvan TownshipFreeman TownshipSylvan Township
Freeman Township ↔ Sylvan Township5.2 miles apart · They share a border
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 C−Sylvan TownshipHealthier than 19% 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 TownshipSylvan Township
Snow a year—61″
January low—13°F
July high—81°F
Growing season (days)—142d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)17th44th
Outdoors & history
Freeman TownshipSylvan Township
Trails41 mi4 mi
Conserved land10.6%8.9%
Archive photos2—
Community
Freeman TownshipSylvan 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.

Freeman TownshipSylvan Township
People
Population 1,431Highest 1,104Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.8%Highest MI: +2% -12%Lowest MI: +2%
Median age 54±5Highest 34% above MI 45.6±5.4Lowest 13% above MI
Freeman Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 17.1%±3.5Lowest MI: 21.2% 24.7%±4.5Highest MI: 21.2%
Sylvan Township and Freeman Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 28.7%±6.3Highest MI: 18.6% 24.4%±4.3Lowest MI: 18.6%
Freeman Township and Sylvan 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%Lowest MI: 32.4% 12.5%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.3%±1.3Highest MI: 6.1% 1.1%±0.8Lowest MI: 6.1%
Freeman Township and Sylvan 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 $43,583±$5kLowest 40% below MI
Freeman Township and Sylvan 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 $119,000±$14kLowest 49% below MI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $827±$55Lowest 27% below MI $1,067±$109Highest 5% below MI
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,438Lowest 50% below MI $1,440Highest 50% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 27.3%±76.8Lowest MI: 50.4% 48.1%±25.2Highest MI: 50.4%
Sylvan 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% 20.5%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 95.7%Highest MI: 73.2% 91.2%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1991Highest 19 yrs newer than MI 1979Lowest 7 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 36 minHighest 50% above MI 25 minLowest about the MI average
Work from home 16%±7.4Highest MI: 13.5% 2.6%±2Lowest MI: 13.5%
Work in townworking residents 1%Lowest 1.5%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 31.8 miHighest 24.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.07Lowest 0.26Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Clare (8%)Evart (17%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Sylvan TownshipFew work in Freeman Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 10.6%Highest 8.9%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 41.4 miHighest 4.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.2 miHighest 0.1 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.7Highest 1.9Lowest
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.

Sylvan Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sylvan Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Freeman Township

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