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

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

Health

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

Springvale Township$1,540/mo

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

Sands Township$1,550/mo

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

Springvale TownshipEmmet County Sands TownshipMarquette County

Springvale Township ↔ Sands 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

Springvale TownshipSands Township

People

Population 2,619Highest 2,425Lowest

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

Median age 43.6±4.8Highest 8% above MI 42.6±4.8Lowest 6% 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 24.9%±4.3Lowest MI: 21.2% 29.1%±4.8Highest 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+ 13.8%±2.3Lowest MI: 18.6% 20.9%±2.8Highest MI: 18.6%

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

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.1%±1.3Lowest MI: 6.1% 3.1%±1.8Highest 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 $102,083±$18kHighest 40% above MI $87,443±$6kLowest 20% 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 $254,000±$41kLowest 10% above MI $259,200±$33kHighest 12% 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 $1,645±$701Highest 46% above MI $700±$248Lowest 38% below 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 $2,453Highest 16% below MI $2,338Lowest 19% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 29.6%±78.2Lowest MI: 50.4% 63.9%±51.8Highest 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 3.2%Lowest MI: 13.2% 7.5%Highest MI: 13.2%

Housing

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

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

Getting to work

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

Work from home 5.6%±3Lowest MI: 13.5% 6.9%±4.3Highest 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 1%Lowest 4.2%Highest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.3 miHighest 9.3 miLowest

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

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

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

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 2.1%Highest 0.3%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 83.8 miLowest 156.3 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.8 miLowest 2.4 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 10Highest 4Lowest

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

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.

Springvale Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Springvale Township’s Town Square.

Sands Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sands Township’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Springvale Township and Sands Township

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

Bordering Springvale Township

+ Compare

Littlefield Township3,224 people · $257K homes

+ Compare

Bear Creek Township6,544 people · $365K homes

+ Compare

Chandler Township266 people · $262K homes

+ Compare

Mentor Township866 people · $180K homes

Towns like Springvale Township

+ Compare

Tecumseh Township2,103 people · $309K homes

+ Compare

Negaunee Township3,255 people · $302K homes

+ Compare

Charleston Township2,002 people · $245K homes

+ Compare

Victor Township3,460 people · $288K 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.

Springvale Township vs Sands 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 Springvale Township and Sands Township

Bordering Springvale Township

Towns like Springvale Township

Post to Springvale Township

Check your email