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Pickford Township vs Ely Township

167 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+77.7 pts in Pickford Township) and trails (3.1× in Ely Township).

P ×

Pickford Township, MIHomes around $206KChippewa County · 1,674 people

E ×

Ely Township, MIA small town of 1,843Marquette County · 1,843 people

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.

Pickford TownshipHomes around $206K

Housing$206K typical home23% below the MI typical home

Outdoors15.5% conserved land33 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves All about Pickford Township →

Ely TownshipA small town of 1,843

Quiet strengthsEly Township doesn’t stand out on the data we haveNeighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.

All about Ely Township →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Growth since 2010+77.7 pts

Pickford Township has grown faster since 2010

Pickford Township +75%Ely Township -2.7%

Ely Township has more miles of trail

Ely Township 102.1 miPickford Township 32.6 mi

Property tax bill+45%

Tax bills are bigger in Pickford Township

Pickford Township $2,170Ely Township $1,496

Kids under 18+10.9 pts

Pickford Township has more kids

Pickford Township 28.5%Ely Township 17.6%

Average commute6 min

Pickford Township has the shorter commute

Ely Township 31 minPickford Township 24 min

Conserved land+9.9 pts

Pickford Township has more conserved land

Pickford Township 15.5%Ely Township 5.6%

★ 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.

Down paymentRate%

Pickford Township$1,300/mo

Typical home $206K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.30% · or rent about $730/mo · Housing →

Ely Township$1,150/mo

Typical home $196K (Census) · tax rate 0.76% · Housing →

The difference: $150 a month, about $1,800 a year, between Pickford Township and Ely 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.

Schools

B−Pickford TownshipBetter than 53% of districts in the state –Ely TownshipNot graded

Health

B−Pickford TownshipHealthier than 49% of U.S. towns C+Ely TownshipHealthier than 42% 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

Pickford TownshipEly Township

Snow a year94″118″

January low8°F 2°F

July high79°F 78°F

Growing season (days)127d 96d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)11th 26th

Outdoors & history

Pickford TownshipEly Township

Trails33 mi 102 mi

Conserved land15.5%5.6%

National Register places1 1

Community

Pickford TownshipEly Township

Library hours a week35 hrs —

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

167 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Pickford TownshipChippewa County Ely TownshipMarquette County

Pickford Township ↔ Ely Township167 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

Pickford TownshipEly Township

People

Population 1,674Lowest 1,843Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +75%Highest MI: +2% -2.7%Lowest MI: +2%

Median age 39.6±8.1Lowest about the MI average 39.7±5.2Highest about the MI average

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

Kids under 18 28.5%±5.5Highest MI: 21.2% 17.6%±2.1Lowest MI: 21.2%

Age 65+ 15.1%±4.7Lowest MI: 18.6% 19.5%±3.8Highest MI: 18.6%

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

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 26.3%Highest MI: 32.4% 19.7%Lowest MI: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.4%±2.6Lowest MI: 6.1% 5.9%±2.9Highest MI: 6.1%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $99,688±$14kLowest 37% above MI $100,104±$13kHighest 37% above MI

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $167,400±$35kLowest 28% below MI $196,300±$19kHighest 15% below MI

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $730±$19 35% below MI —

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,170Highest 25% below MI $1,496Lowest 48% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 12%±77.1Highest MI: 50.4% 0%±81.5Lowest MI: 50.4%

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

Below poverty line 1.7%Lowest MI: 13.2% 5%Highest MI: 13.2%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 93.9%Lowest MI: 73.2% 96.1%Highest MI: 73.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1979Highest 7 yrs newer than MI 1973Lowest 1 yr newer than MI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 24 minLowest about the MI average 31 minHighest 26% above MI

Work from home 7.8%±4.8Highest MI: 13.5% 2.8%±1.2Lowest MI: 13.5%

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

Work in townworking residents 5.5%Highest 2.2%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.3 miHighest 16.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.29Highest 0.18Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Sault Ste. Marie (28%)Ishpeming (32%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Ely TownshipFew work in Pickford Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 15.5%Highest 5.6%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 32.6 miLowest 102.1 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miLowest 0.7 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 5Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 0.9Lowest 1.3Highest

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.

Pickford Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Pickford Township’s Town Square.

Ely Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ely Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Bordering Pickford Township

Bruce Township1,872 people · $184K homes

Raber Township597 people · $113K homes

Kinross Township6,784 people · $127K homes

Marquette Township677 people · $145K homes

Towns like Pickford Township

Midland Township2,117 people · $185K homes

Walton Township1,916 people · $221K homes

Porter Township1,181 people · $167K homes

Boardman Township1,632 people · $178K 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.