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Compare towns

Lakeview vs McBain

52 miles apart. The biggest differences: average commute (16 min in McBain) and jobs per worker (2.7× in McBain).

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Lakeview, MIOne of the healthiest townsMichigan · 1,030 people
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McBain, MIA regional job hubMichigan · 706 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.

LakeviewOne of the healthiest towns
Health82% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SafetySafer than 29%of U.S. towns we grade All about Lakeview →
McBainA regional job hub
Work612 jobsbased in McBain, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 84%of MI districts All about McBain →
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.

Average commute16 min
McBain has the shorter commute
Lakeview 34 minMcBain 18 min
Jobs per worker2.7×
McBain is more of a job hub
McBain 2.56Lakeview 0.96
Property tax bill+35%
Tax bills are bigger in Lakeview
Lakeview $2,211McBain $1,643
Street grid+80%
Lakeview has the more walkable street grid
Lakeview 40.3McBain 22.4
Growth since 2010+4.6 pts
Lakeview has grown faster since 2010
Lakeview +1.7%McBain -2.9%
★ 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.

Lakeview$1,430/mo
Typical home $225K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.34% · or rent about $496/mo · Housing →
McBain$1,510/mo
Typical home $242K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.16% · or rent about $298/mo · Housing →

The difference: $80 a month, about $900 a year, between McBain and Lakeview.

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.

Safety
CLakeviewSafer than 29% of U.S. towns –McBainNot graded
Schools
–LakeviewNot graded A−McBainBetter than 84% of districts in the state
Health
C−LakeviewHealthier than 18% of U.S. towns –McBainNot 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
LakeviewMcBain
Snow a year73″74″
January low13°F10°F
July high84°F80°F
Growing season (days)133d125d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)8th16th
Outdoors & history
LakeviewMcBain
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%2.3%
Settled—1887
Community
LakeviewMcBain
Library hours a week42 hrs51 hrs
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

52 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

LakeviewMIMcBainMI
Lakeview ↔ McBain52 miles apart
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.

LakeviewMcBain
People
Population 1,030Highest 706Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.7%Highest MI: +2% -2.9%Lowest MI: +2%
Median age 35.6±15.7Lowest 11% below MI 37.8±8.1Highest 6% below MI
McBain and Lakeview are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 18.8%±4.3Lowest MI: 21.2% 19%±3.4Highest MI: 21.2%
McBain and Lakeview are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.4%±3.1Lowest MI: 18.6% 24.1%±7Highest MI: 18.6%
McBain and Lakeview are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 10.2%Highest MI: 32.4% 9.6%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.6%±2.3Highest MI: 6.1% 3.3%±2.7Lowest MI: 6.1%
Lakeview and McBain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $33,631±$10kLowest 54% below MI $47,083±$18kHighest 35% below MI
McBain and Lakeview are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $165,500±$37kHighest 29% below MI $141,700±$36kLowest 39% below MI
Lakeview and McBain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $496±$229Highest 56% below MI $298±$101Lowest 74% below MI
Lakeview and McBain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,211Highest 24% below MI $1,643Lowest 43% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 35.9%±23.8Lowest MI: 50.4% 62.6%±47.2Highest MI: 50.4%
McBain and Lakeview are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 30.4%Highest MI: 13.2% 12.3%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 65.8%Highest MI: 73.2% 62.1%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1955Lowest 17 yrs older than MI 1962Highest 10 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 34 minHighest 39% above MI 18 minLowest 25% below MI
Work from home 9%±4.9Highest MI: 13.5% 3.7%±2.9Lowest MI: 13.5%
Lakeview and McBain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 6.9%Lowest 12.1%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 33.8 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.96Lowest 2.56Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Cato Township (15%)Cadillac (20%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in McBainFew work in Lakeview
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 2.3%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 40.3Highest 22.4Lowest
Schools
School district —McBain Rural Agricultural Schools
High school in town —McBain High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 17.1
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.

Lakeview neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lakeview’s Town Square.

McBain neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to McBain’s Town Square.

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Towns like Lakeview

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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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