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McBain vs Lakeview

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

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

McBainA regional job hub
Work612 jobsbased in McBain, a regional job hub SchoolsBetter than 84%of MI districts All about McBain →
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 →
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.

McBain$1,510/mo
Typical home $242K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.16% · or rent about $298/mo · Housing →
Lakeview$1,430/mo
Typical home $225K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.34% · or rent about $496/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
–McBainNot graded CLakeviewSafer than 29% of U.S. towns
Schools
A−McBainBetter than 84% of districts in the state –LakeviewNot graded
Health
–McBainNot graded C−LakeviewHealthier than 18% 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
McBainLakeview
Snow a year74″73″
January low10°F13°F
July high80°F84°F
Growing season (days)125d133d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)16th8th
Outdoors & history
McBainLakeview
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land2.3%0%
Settled1887—
Community
McBainLakeview
Library hours a week51 hrs42 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.

McBainMILakeviewMI
McBain ↔ Lakeview52 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.

McBainLakeview
People
Population 706Lowest 1,030Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -2.9%Lowest MI: +2% +1.7%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 37.8±8.1Highest 6% below MI 35.6±15.7Lowest 11% 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 19%±3.4Highest MI: 21.2% 18.8%±4.3Lowest 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+ 24.1%±7Highest MI: 18.6% 19.4%±3.1Lowest 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+ 9.6%Lowest MI: 32.4% 10.2%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.3%±2.7Lowest MI: 6.1% 4.6%±2.3Highest 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 $47,083±$18kHighest 35% below MI $33,631±$10kLowest 54% 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 $141,700±$36kLowest 39% below MI $165,500±$37kHighest 29% 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 $298±$101Lowest 74% below MI $496±$229Highest 56% 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 $1,643Lowest 43% below MI $2,211Highest 24% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 62.6%±47.2Highest MI: 50.4% 35.9%±23.8Lowest 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 12.3%Lowest MI: 13.2% 30.4%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 62.1%Lowest MI: 73.2% 65.8%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1962Highest 10 yrs older than MI 1955Lowest 17 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 25% below MI 34 minHighest 39% above MI
Work from home 3.7%±2.9Lowest MI: 13.5% 9%±4.9Highest 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 12.1%Highest 6.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 33.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.56Highest 0.96Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Cadillac (20%)Cato Township (15%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in LakeviewFew work in McBain
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.3%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 22.4Lowest 40.3Highest
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.

McBain neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to McBain’s Town Square.

Lakeview neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Lakeview’s Town Square.

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Bordering McBain

R
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Richland Township1,779 people · $197K homes
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Riverside Township1,306 people · $207K homes

Towns like McBain

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Addison534 people · $137K homes
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Augusta776 people · $141K homes
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Sunfield658 people · $156K homes
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Maple Rapids727 people · $131K 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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