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Compare towns

Leslie vs Union Township

45 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (13.5× in Leslie) and property tax bill (+78% in Leslie).

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Leslie, MIOne of the safest townsMichigan · 2,129 people
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Union Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsBranch County · 2,962 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.

LeslieOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 71%of U.S. towns we grade HealthHealthier than 63%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Leslie →
Union TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health81% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Union 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.

Street grid13.5×
Leslie has the more walkable street grid
Leslie 59.5Union Township 4.4
Property tax bill+78%
Tax bills are bigger in Leslie
Leslie $2,649Union Township $1,492
Jobs per worker+93%
Leslie is more of a job hub
Leslie 0.56Union Township 0.29
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $830 more a month in Leslie

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.

Leslie$1,620/mo
Typical home $241K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.77% · or rent about $1,057/mo · Housing →
Union Township$790/mo
Typical home $126K (Census) · tax rate 1.18% · or rent about $873/mo · Housing →

The difference: $830 a month, about $10,000 a year, between Leslie and Union 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.

Safety
B+LeslieSafer than 71% of U.S. towns –Union TownshipNot graded
Schools
C+LeslieBetter than 44% of districts in the state C+Union TownshipBetter than 43% of districts in the state
Health
BLeslieHealthier than 63% of U.S. towns C−Union 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
LeslieUnion Township
Snow a year36″43″
January low18°F16°F
July high83°F82°F
Growing season (days)173d163d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th30th
Outdoors & history
LeslieUnion Township
Trails0 mi2 mi
Conserved land1.9%0%
Settled1836—
National Register places—1
Archive photos—1
Community
LeslieUnion Township
Library hours a week38 hrs40 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

45 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

LeslieMIUnion TownshipBranch County
Leslie ↔ Union Township45 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.

LeslieUnion Township
People
Population 2,129Lowest 2,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.1%Highest MI: +2% +2.6%Lowest MI: +2%
Median age 32±3.7Lowest 20% below MI 33.1±5.6Highest 18% below MI
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.3%±2.8Lowest MI: 21.2% 30.7%±6.2Highest MI: 21.2%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 10.8%±1.6Lowest MI: 18.6% 12.6%±2.3Highest MI: 18.6%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20.4%Highest MI: 32.4% 17.6%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.1%±1.9Highest MI: 6.1% 3.6%±2.6Lowest MI: 6.1%
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $73,654±$8kHighest about the MI average $64,107±$11kLowest 12% below MI
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $149,700±$15kHighest 35% below MI $126,400±$22kLowest 45% below MI
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,057±$104Highest 6% below MI $873±$204Lowest 23% below MI
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,649Highest 9% below MI $1,492Lowest 49% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 22.9%±9.3Lowest MI: 50.4% 41%±19.3Highest MI: 50.4%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.9%Lowest MI: 13.2% 15.4%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 73.5%Highest MI: 73.2% 70.9%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1949Lowest 23 yrs older than MI 1953Highest 19 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 13% above MI 27 minLowest 11% above MI
Work from home 7.3%±3.7Lowest MI: 13.5% 10.5%±4.5Highest MI: 13.5%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 4.8%Lowest 6.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.3 miHighest 18.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.56Highest 0.29Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Lansing (18%)Coldwater (16%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Union TownshipFew work in Leslie
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.9%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 1.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 2Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 59.5Highest 4.4Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#400 of 493 in MI
School district Leslie Public SchoolsUnion City Community Schools
High school in town None in townUnion City High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 12.7
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.

Leslie neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Leslie’s Town Square.

Union Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Union Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Leslie

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Lake Odessa2,155 people · $149K homes
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Capac1,970 people · $162K homes
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Mason Township2,836 people · $205K homes
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Decatur1,835 people · $138K 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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