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Compare towns

Perry vs Saranac

51 miles apart. The biggest differences: rent (2× in Perry) and jobs per worker (2.1× in Perry).

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Perry, MIKnown for its schoolsMichigan · 2,073 people
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Saranac, MIA small town of 2,013Michigan · 2,013 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.

PerryKnown for its schools
SchoolsBetter than 63%of MI districts All about Perry →
SaranacA small town of 2,013
Quiet strengthsSaranac doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Saranac →
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.

Rent2×
Rent runs higher in Perry
Perry $1,091Saranac $538
Jobs per worker2.1×
Perry is more of a job hub
Perry 0.79Saranac 0.38
Growth since 2010+8.2 pts
Saranac has grown faster since 2010
Saranac +3.8%Perry -4.4%
★ 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.

Perry$1,760/mo
Typical home $267K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.60% · or rent about $1,091/mo · Housing →
Saranac$1,860/mo
Typical home $300K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.13% · or rent about $538/mo · Housing →

The difference: $100 a month, about $1,200 a year, between Saranac and Perry.

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.

Schools
BPerryBetter than 63% of districts in the state –SaranacNot graded
Health
C+PerryHealthier than 40% of U.S. towns B−SaranacHealthier than 52% 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
PerrySaranac
Snow a year46″66″
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)23rd57th
Outdoors & history
PerrySaranac
Trails2 mi2 mi
Conserved land2.7%1.9%
National Register places2—
Archive photos6—
Community
PerrySaranac
Library hours a week42 hrs48 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

51 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

PerryMISaranacMI
Perry ↔ Saranac51 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.

PerrySaranac
People
Population 2,073Highest 2,013Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.4%Lowest MI: +2% +3.8%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 36.3±6.9Highest 10% below MI 35.6±8.6Lowest 11% below MI
Perry and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 23%±7.5Highest MI: 21.2% 20.7%±4.7Lowest MI: 21.2%
Perry and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 11.8%±3.4Lowest MI: 18.6% 13.2%±1.5Highest MI: 18.6%
Saranac and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.1%Highest MI: 32.4% 19.7%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.8%±1.3Lowest MI: 6.1% 3.1%±1.8Highest MI: 6.1%
Saranac and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $75,321±$19kHighest 3% above MI $66,944±$13kLowest 8% below MI
Perry and Saranac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $164,000±$14kLowest 29% below MI $202,800±$30kHighest 12% below MI
Saranac and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,091±$191Highest 3% below MI $538±$193Lowest 52% below MI
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,627Highest 10% below MI $2,294Lowest 21% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 39.5%±22.5Lowest MI: 50.4% 48%±13.3Highest MI: 50.4%
Saranac and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 19.1%Highest MI: 13.2% 15.3%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61.3%Highest MI: 73.2% 58.8%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1973Highest 1 yr newer than MI 1966Lowest 6 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 12% above MI 24 minLowest about the MI average
Work from home 11.4%±6.3Lowest MI: 13.5% 14.1%±8.7Highest MI: 13.5%
Saranac and Perry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 7.3%Highest 2.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 21.8 miHighest 20.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.79Highest 0.38Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town East Lansing (9%)Grand Rapids (13%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in SaranacFew work in Perry
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.7%Highest 1.9%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 1.5 miLowest 1.9 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miLowest 1.6 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Lowest 4Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 32.3Highest 30.1Lowest
Schools
School district Perry Public Schools—
High school in town Perry Secondary Campus Home to Perry Middle Perry High Sc—
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.

Perry neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Perry’s Town Square.

Saranac neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Saranac’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Perry and Saranac

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Perry

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Three Oaks1,503 people · $216K 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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