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Hamilton Township vs Freeman Township

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

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

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

Hamilton Township$700/mo
Typical home $111K (Census) · tax rate 1.29% · or rent about $725/mo · Housing →
Freeman Township$910/mo
Typical home $151K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $827/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
DHamilton TownshipHealthier than 9% of U.S. towns C−Freeman TownshipHealthier than 16% 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
Hamilton TownshipFreeman Township
Snow a year49″—
January low13°F—
July high82°F—
Growing season (days)148d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)21st17th
Outdoors & history
Hamilton TownshipFreeman Township
Trails15 mi41 mi
Conserved land5.4%10.6%
Settled1885—
Archive photos32
Community
Hamilton TownshipFreeman 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.

Hamilton TownshipFreeman TownshipHamilton TownshipFreeman Township
Hamilton Township ↔ Freeman 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.

Hamilton TownshipFreeman Township
People
Population 1,799Highest 1,431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.4%Highest MI: +2% -2.8%Lowest MI: +2%
Median age 53.4±2.3Lowest 33% above MI 54±5Highest 34% 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 16.5%±3.4Lowest MI: 21.2% 17.1%±3.5Highest 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+ 32.4%±2.9Highest MI: 18.6% 28.7%±6.3Lowest 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+ 6.9%Lowest MI: 32.4% 11.2%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.8%±1.2Lowest MI: 6.1% 1.3%±1.3Highest 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 $45,096±$12kLowest 38% below MI $54,063±$7kHighest 26% 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 $110,500±$15kLowest 52% below MI $150,600±$17kHighest 35% below MI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $725±$379Lowest 36% below MI $827±$55Highest 27% 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 $1,425Lowest 51% below MI $1,438Highest 50% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 50%±75Highest MI: 50.4% 27.3%±76.8Lowest 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 32%Highest MI: 13.2% 9.9%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 95.5%Lowest MI: 73.2% 95.7%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1970Lowest 2 yrs older than MI 1991Highest 19 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minLowest 21% above MI 36 minHighest 50% above MI
Work from home 8.5%±7.6Lowest MI: 13.5% 16%±7.4Highest 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 0.4%Lowest 1%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 32.3 miHighest 31.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.04Lowest 0.07Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Clare (9%)Clare (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Freeman TownshipFew work in Hamilton Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 5.4%Lowest 10.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 15.3 miLowest 41.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 1.2 miHighest
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.

Hamilton Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Hamilton Township’s Town Square.

Freeman Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freeman Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Hamilton Township

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Sage Township2,325 people · $164K homes
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Arthur Township566 people · $235K homes
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Hayes Township4,692 people · $94K homes
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Franklin Township791 people · $157K homes

Towns like Hamilton Township

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Grant Township1,617 people · $127K homes
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Big Prairie Township2,494 people · $144K homes
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+ Compare
Lincoln Township1,410 people · $144K homes
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+ Compare
Briley Township1,840 people · $122K 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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