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James Township vs Spaulding Township

Next-door neighbors in Saginaw County. The biggest differences: home values (+40% in James Township) and jobs per worker (2.6× in Spaulding Township).

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James Township, MIAn outdoors townSaginaw County · 1,712 people
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Spaulding Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsSaginaw County · 1,986 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.

James TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors45.6% conserved land22 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves SchoolsBetter than 85%of MI districts All about James Township →
Spaulding TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health99% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Outdoors43.5% conserved land15 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves All about Spaulding 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.

Home values+40%
Homes cost more in James Township
James Township $165,100Spaulding Township $117,600
Jobs per worker2.6×
Spaulding Township is more of a job hub
Spaulding Township 0.41James Township 0.16
Property tax bill+29%
Tax bills are bigger in James Township
James Township $2,347Spaulding Township $1,820
Average commute7 min
Spaulding Township has the shorter commute
James Township 28 minSpaulding Township 22 min
Typical home built14 yrs
Spaulding Township’s homes are older
James Township 1968Spaulding Township 1954
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $290 more a month in James 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.

James Township$1,060/mo
Typical home $165K (Census) · tax rate 1.42% · or rent about $910/mo · Housing →
Spaulding Township$770/mo
Typical home $118K (Census) · tax rate 1.55% · or rent about $692/mo · Housing →

The difference: $290 a month, about $3,500 a year, between James Township and Spaulding 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.

Schools
AJames TownshipBetter than 85% of districts in the state –Spaulding TownshipNot graded
Health
B−James TownshipHealthier than 47% of U.S. towns D−Spaulding TownshipHealthier than under 1% of U.S. towns
Where they are

James Township and Spaulding Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

James TownshipSpaulding TownshipJames TownshipSpaulding Township
James Township ↔ Spaulding Township3.8 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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
James TownshipSpaulding Township
Snow a year41″41″
January low16°F16°F
July high83°F83°F
Growing season (days)175d175d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)84th67th
Outdoors & history
James TownshipSpaulding Township
Trails22 mi15 mi
Conserved land45.6%43.5%
National Register places—1
Archive photos—2
Famous people born here—1
Community
James TownshipSpaulding 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.

James TownshipSpaulding Township
People
Population 1,712Lowest 1,986Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -11.4%Lowest MI: +2% -8.3%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 50.5±3.1Lowest 26% above MI 58.1±8.4Highest 45% above MI
Spaulding Township and James Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.1%±3.4Highest MI: 21.2% 16.7%±4.5Lowest MI: 21.2%
James Township and Spaulding Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 24.9%±3.1Lowest MI: 18.6% 35.7%±8.9Highest MI: 18.6%
Spaulding Township and James Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 17.6%Highest MI: 32.4% 13.2%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.3%±1.4Highest MI: 6.1% 1%±1Lowest MI: 6.1%
James Township and Spaulding Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $70,000±$9kHighest 4% below MI $61,518±$3kLowest 16% below MI
James Township and Spaulding Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $165,100±$9kHighest 29% below MI $117,600±$13kLowest 49% below MI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $910±$146Highest 19% below MI $692±$99Lowest 39% below MI
James Township and Spaulding Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,347Highest 19% below MI $1,820Lowest 37% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 23.5%±34.2Lowest MI: 50.4% 100%±100Highest MI: 50.4%
Spaulding Township and James Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11.4% MI: 13.2% 11.4% MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 93.2%Lowest MI: 73.2% 95.4%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1968Highest 4 yrs older than MI 1954Lowest 18 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 28 minHighest 17% above MI 22 minLowest 10% below MI
Work from home 5%±2Highest MI: 13.5% 4.4%±3.4Lowest MI: 13.5%
James Township and Spaulding Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 2.8%Lowest 4.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 8.8 miLowest 10.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.16Lowest 0.41Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Saginaw (18%)Saginaw (21%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Spaulding TownshipFew work in James Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 45.6%Highest 43.5%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 21.8 miHighest 14.9 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.1 miHighest 0.5 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2 2
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.7Lowest 2.9Highest
Schools
School district Swan Valley School District—
High school in town None in town—
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.

James Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to James Township’s Town Square.

Spaulding Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Spaulding Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering James Township

+ Compare
Saginaw43,536 people · $60K homes
+ Compare
Saginaw Township41,281 people · $182K homes
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Swan Creek Township2,368 people · $191K homes
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Thomas Township11,900 people · $192K homes

Towns like James Township

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Wells Township1,547 people · $166K homes
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Tawas Township1,536 people · $159K homes
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Standish Township1,606 people · $161K homes
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+ Compare
Wheatland Township1,334 people · $183K 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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