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Maple River Township vs Rapid River Township

50 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (5.5× in Rapid River Township) and jobs per worker (4× in Rapid River Township).

M ×
Maple River Township, MIA small town of 1,322Emmet County · 1,322 people
R ×
Rapid River Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsKalkaska County · 1,321 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.

Maple River TownshipA small town of 1,322
Quiet strengthsMaple River Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Maple River Township →
Rapid River TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Rapid River 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.

Trails5.5×
Rapid River Township has more miles of trail
Rapid River Township 75.7 miMaple River Township 13.8 mi
Jobs per worker4×
Rapid River Township is more of a job hub
Rapid River Township 0.60Maple River Township 0.15
Growth since 2010+12.6 pts
Rapid River Township has grown faster since 2010
Rapid River Township +8.7%Maple River Township -3.9%
Average commute5 min
Maple River Township has the shorter commute
Rapid River Township 29 minMaple River Township 23 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $180 more a month in Maple River 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.

Maple River Township$1,280/mo
Typical home $221K (Census) · tax rate 0.67% · or rent about $1,239/mo · Housing →
Rapid River Township$1,100/mo
Typical home $185K (Census) · tax rate 0.86% · or rent about $992/mo · Housing →

The difference: $180 a month, about $2,100 a year, between Maple River Township and Rapid River 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
C+Maple River TownshipHealthier than 43% of U.S. towns C+Rapid River TownshipHealthier than 37% 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
Maple River TownshipRapid River Township
Snow a year120″132″
January low12°F11°F
July high76°F79°F
Growing season (days)147d128d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)60th6th
Outdoors & history
Maple River TownshipRapid River Township
Trails14 mi76 mi
Conserved land3.6%0.5%
Community
Maple River TownshipRapid River 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

50 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Maple River TownshipEmmet CountyRapid River TownshipKalkaska County
Maple River Township ↔ Rapid River Township50 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.

Maple River TownshipRapid River Township
People
Population 1,322Highest 1,321Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -3.9%Lowest MI: +2% +8.7%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 41.2±4.1Lowest about the MI average 41.7±6Highest 4% above MI
Rapid River Township and Maple River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.8%±3.8Lowest MI: 21.2% 22.9%±6.7Highest MI: 21.2%
Rapid River Township and Maple River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 18.6%±7.2Highest MI: 18.6% 15.6%±5.1Lowest MI: 18.6%
Maple River Township and Rapid River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20.2%Lowest MI: 32.4% 21.5%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.8%±1.5Lowest MI: 6.1% 6.7%±5.4Highest MI: 6.1%
Rapid River Township and Maple River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $72,019±$16kLowest about the MI average $72,273±$7kHighest about the MI average
Rapid River Township and Maple River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $220,900±$14kHighest 5% below MI $185,300±$44kLowest 20% below MI
Maple River Township and Rapid River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,239±$309Highest 10% above MI $992±$225Lowest 12% below MI
Maple River Township and Rapid River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,474Lowest 49% below MI $1,599Highest 45% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 10.8%±52.6Lowest MI: 50.4% 34.4%±55.4Highest MI: 50.4%
Rapid River Township and Maple River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.8%Highest MI: 13.2% 4.9%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 91.5%Highest MI: 73.2% 91.2%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1991Highest 19 yrs newer than MI 1989Lowest 17 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 23 minLowest 3% below MI 29 minHighest 18% above MI
Work from home 8%±2.8Highest MI: 13.5% 3.7%±2.6Lowest MI: 13.5%
Maple River Township and Rapid River Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.9%Lowest 3.2%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 13.3 miLowest 21.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.15Lowest 0.60Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Petoskey (16%)Kalkaska Township (28%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Rapid River TownshipFew work in Maple River Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 3.6%Highest 0.5%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 13.8 miLowest 75.7 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 2.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 7Highest 3Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.2 2.2
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.

Maple River Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Maple River Township’s Town Square.

Rapid River Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rapid River Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Maple River Township

+ Compare
Littlefield Township3,224 people · $257K homes
P
+ Compare
Pleasantview Township862 people · $357K homes
M
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McKinley Township1,298 people · $117K homes
B
+ Compare
Burt Township956 people · $538K homes

Towns like Maple River Township

V
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Volinia Township1,240 people · $224K homes
W
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Wakeshma Township1,521 people · $202K homes
F
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Fruitport1,212 people · $218K homes
C
+ Compare
Convis Township1,554 people · $184K 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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