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Rich Township vs Watson Township

133 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+13.1 pts in Watson Township) and average commute (11 min in Watson Township).

R ×
Rich Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsLapeer County · 1,634 people
W ×
Watson Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsAllegan County · 2,094 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.

Rich TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health72% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Rich Township →
Watson TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health63% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Watson 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.

Growth since 2010+13.1 pts
Watson Township has grown faster since 2010
Watson Township +5.5%Rich Township -7.6%
Average commute11 min
Watson Township has the shorter commute
Rich Township 38 minWatson Township 27 min
Street grid+60%
Watson Township has the more walkable street grid
Watson Township 3.2Rich Township 2.0
Property tax bill+16%
Tax bills are bigger in Rich Township
Rich Township $2,454Watson Township $2,110
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $370 more a month in Rich 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.

Rich Township$1,670/mo
Typical home $279K (Census) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $1,682/mo · Housing →
Watson Township$1,300/mo
Typical home $214K (Census) · tax rate 0.99% · Housing →

The difference: $370 a month, about $4,400 a year, between Rich Township and Watson 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.

Life in each

Watson Township gets 61 more inches of snow a year

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
Rich TownshipWatson Township
Snow a year49″109″
January low—17°F
July high—83°F
Growing season (days)—156d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th16th
Outdoors & history
Rich TownshipWatson Township
Trails2 mi2 mi
Conserved land1.9%0%
Community
Rich TownshipWatson 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.

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
CRich TownshipHealthier than 28% of U.S. towns C+Watson TownshipHealthier than 37% of U.S. towns
Where they are

133 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Rich TownshipLapeer CountyWatson TownshipAllegan County
Rich Township ↔ Watson Township133 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.

Rich TownshipWatson Township
People
Population 1,634Lowest 2,094Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -7.6%Lowest MI: +2% +5.5%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 40.2±6.7Lowest about the MI average 41.2±5Highest about the MI average
Watson Township and Rich Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.9%±4Highest MI: 21.2% 23.2%±3.4Lowest MI: 21.2%
Rich Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.3%±4.8Lowest MI: 18.6% 24.2%±5.7Highest MI: 18.6%
Watson Township and Rich Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.1%Lowest MI: 32.4% 17.1%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.1%±5.6Highest MI: 6.1% 0.6%±0.8Lowest MI: 6.1%
Rich Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $66,000±$24kHighest 9% below MI $65,469±$12kLowest 10% below MI
Rich Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $279,200±$54kHighest 21% above MI $214,000±$15kLowest 8% below MI
Rich Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,682±$477 49% above MI —
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,454Highest 15% below MI $2,110Lowest 27% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 73.1%±76.5Highest MI: 50.4% 63.6%±58Lowest MI: 50.4%
Rich Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 6.5%Lowest MI: 13.2% 16.3%Highest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 94.4%Lowest MI: 73.2% 94.9%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1981Lowest 9 yrs newer than MI 1986Highest 14 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 38 minHighest 56% above MI 27 minLowest 12% above MI
Work from home 7.2%±3.5Highest MI: 13.5% 3.5%±2.2Lowest MI: 13.5%
Rich Township and Watson Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 0.7%Lowest 0.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 31.3 miHighest 20.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.06Highest 0.05Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Lapeer (8%)Martin Township (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Watson TownshipFew work in Rich Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.9%Highest 0%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 2.4 miHighest 2.1 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 2.0Lowest 3.2Highest
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.

Rich Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rich Township’s Town Square.

Watson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Watson Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Rich Township

B
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Burlington Township1,332 people · $174K homes
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Watertown Township2,304 people · $162K homes
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Deerfield Township5,761 people · $185K homes
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Dayton Township1,922 people · $182K homes

Towns like Rich Township

+ Compare
Hamilton Township1,331 people · $214K homes
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Orange Township1,355 people · $201K homes
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Wakeshma Township1,521 people · $202K homes
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Middlebury Township1,658 people · $190K 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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