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.

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $150 more a month in Nelson 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.

Down paymentRate%

Oregon Township$1,390/mo

Typical home $236K (Census) · tax rate 0.78% · or rent about $825/mo · Housing →

Nelson Township$1,540/mo

Typical home $253K (Census) · tax rate 1.02% · or rent about $569/mo · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Nelson Township and Oregon 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+Oregon TownshipHealthier than 38% of U.S. towns B−Nelson TownshipHealthier than 49% of U.S. towns

9Oregon Township

9Nelson Township

Lists won, of 19 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Most trailsOutdoors · 601 towns #212#535 Lowest depressionHealth · 723 towns #233#610 Most remote workersWork · 714 towns #552#292 Fastest growingGrowth · 723 towns #510#288 Highest incomeIncome · 723 towns #275#493 Lowest property taxCost of living · 723 towns #122#331 Most conserved landOutdoors · 712 towns #54#198 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 723 towns #673#529

Left end = #1 in Michigan. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Oregon Township’s rankings →

Where they are

106 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Oregon TownshipLapeer County Nelson TownshipKent County

Oregon Township ↔ Nelson Township106 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.

Only big differences vs Michigan average

Oregon TownshipNelson Township

People

Population 5,699Highest 4,940Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.3%Lowest MI: +2% +2.7%Highest MI: +2%

Median age 44±6.1Highest 9% above MI 42.7±2.7Lowest 6% above MI

Oregon Township and Nelson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 17.5%±3.2Lowest MI: 21.2% 19.8%±4.6Highest MI: 21.2%

Nelson Township and Oregon Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 25.6%±4.1Highest MI: 18.6% 18.9%±5.1Lowest MI: 18.6%

Oregon Township and Nelson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.4%Lowest MI: 32.4% 23%Highest MI: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.8%±2.1 MI: 6.1% 4.8%±2.1 MI: 6.1%

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $83,807±$12kHighest 15% above MI $66,735±$10kLowest 8% below MI

Oregon Township and Nelson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $236,400±$11kLowest about the MI average $253,300±$30kHighest 9% above MI

Nelson Township and Oregon Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $825±$814Highest 27% below MI $569±$143Lowest 50% below MI

Oregon Township and Nelson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,847Lowest 36% below MI $2,596Highest 11% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 8%±32.3Lowest MI: 50.4% 66.4%±50.6Highest MI: 50.4%

Nelson Township and Oregon Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 9.4%Lowest MI: 13.2% 9.7%Highest MI: 13.2%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 95.9%Highest MI: 73.2% 93.4%Lowest MI: 73.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1976Lowest 4 yrs newer than MI 1985Highest 13 yrs newer than MI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 28 minLowest 14% above MI 28 minHighest 16% above MI

Work from home 6.8%±2.4Lowest MI: 13.5% 11.6%±4.1Highest MI: 13.5%

Nelson Township and Oregon Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 2.8%Highest 2.1%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 28.8 miHighest 21.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.08Lowest 0.18Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Lapeer (15%)Grand Rapids (20%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Nelson TownshipFew work in Oregon Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 17.6%Highest 7.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 25.1 miHighest 2.6 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.7 miHighest 0.1 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 6Highest 3Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 4.9Highest 4.6Lowest

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.

Oregon Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Oregon Township’s Town Square.

Nelson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Nelson Township’s Town Square.

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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.

Oregon Township vs Nelson Township

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

Nelson Township gets 39 more inches of snow a year

A typical home costs $150 more a month in Nelson Township

Grades and rankings, side by side

106 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Oregon Township and Nelson Township

Bordering Oregon Township

Towns like Oregon Township

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