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.

Schools

CSands TownshipBetter than 34% of districts in the state –Springvale TownshipNot graded

Health

B−Sands TownshipHealthier than 51% of U.S. towns A−Springvale TownshipHealthier than 81% of U.S. towns

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%

Sands Township$1,550/mo

Typical home $259K (Census) · tax rate 0.90% · or rent about $700/mo · Housing →

Springvale Township$1,540/mo

Typical home $254K (Census) · tax rate 0.97% · or rent about $1,645/mo · Housing →

Within $50 a month of each other.

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.

Where they are

147 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Sands TownshipMarquette County Springvale TownshipEmmet County

Sands Township ↔ Springvale Township147 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

Sands TownshipSpringvale Township

People

Population 2,425Lowest 2,619Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.1%Highest MI: +2% +0.2%Lowest MI: +2%

Median age 42.6±4.8Lowest 6% above MI 43.6±4.8Highest 8% above MI

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

Kids under 18 29.1%±4.8Highest MI: 21.2% 24.9%±4.3Lowest MI: 21.2%

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

Age 65+ 20.9%±2.8Highest MI: 18.6% 13.8%±2.3Lowest MI: 18.6%

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 36.9%Lowest MI: 32.4% 37.3%Highest MI: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.1%±1.8Highest MI: 6.1% 2.1%±1.3Lowest MI: 6.1%

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

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $87,443±$6kLowest 20% above MI $102,083±$18kHighest 40% above MI

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

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $259,200±$33kHighest 12% above MI $254,000±$41kLowest 10% above MI

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

Rentmedian gross, monthly $700±$248Lowest 38% below MI $1,645±$701Highest 46% above MI

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

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,338Lowest 19% below MI $2,453Highest 16% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 63.9%±51.8Highest MI: 50.4% 29.6%±78.2Lowest MI: 50.4%

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

Below poverty line 7.5%Highest MI: 13.2% 3.2%Lowest MI: 13.2%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 96%Lowest MI: 73.2% 97.2%Highest MI: 73.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1985Lowest 13 yrs newer than MI 1991Highest 19 yrs newer than MI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 18 minLowest 24% below MI 26 minHighest 7% above MI

Work from home 6.9%±4.3Highest MI: 13.5% 5.6%±3Lowest MI: 13.5%

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

Work in townworking residents 4.2%Highest 1%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 9.3 miLowest 10.3 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.36Highest 0.18Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Marquette (41%)Petoskey (22%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Springvale TownshipFew work in Sands Township

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Lowest 2.1%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 156.3 miHighest 83.8 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.4 miHighest 1.8 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 10Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.7Highest 1.6Lowest

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.

Sands Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sands Township’s Town Square.

Springvale Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Springvale Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Sands Township and Springvale Township

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Bordering Sands Township

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Forsyth Township6,249 people · $169K homes

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Richmond Township724 people · $103K homes

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Marquette Township4,173 people · $287K homes

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Chocolay Township5,964 people · $247K homes

Towns like Sands Township

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Charleston Township2,002 people · $245K homes

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Tecumseh Township2,103 people · $309K homes

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Saline Township2,375 people · $310K homes

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Negaunee Township3,255 people · $302K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Michigan towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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.

Sands Township vs Springvale Township

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they differ most

Sands Township gets 77 more inches of snow a year

Grades and rankings, side by side

A typical home costs about the same each month

147 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

Set another town beside Sands Township and Springvale Township

Bordering Sands Township

Towns like Sands Township

Post to Sands Township

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