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Sylvan Township vs Freeman Township

Next-door neighbors. The biggest differences: trails (9.4× in Freeman Township) and jobs per worker (3.7× in Sylvan Township).

S ×
Sylvan Township, MIAn outdoors townOsceola County · 1,104 people
F ×
Freeman Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsClare County · 1,431 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.

Sylvan TownshipAn outdoors town
Outdoors#79 most conserved land in MI4.4 miles of trails across 2 parks and preserves Health81% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Sylvan Township →
Freeman TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health84% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Freeman 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.

Trails9.4×
Freeman Township has more miles of trail
Freeman Township 41.4 miSylvan Township 4.4 mi
Jobs per worker3.7×
Sylvan Township is more of a job hub
Sylvan Township 0.26Freeman Township 0.07
Work from home+13.4 pts
More people work from home in Freeman Township
Freeman Township 16%Sylvan Township 2.6%
Average commute12 min
Sylvan Township has the shorter commute
Freeman Township 36 minSylvan Township 25 min
Rent+29%
Rent runs higher in Sylvan Township
Sylvan Township $1,067Freeman Township $827
Street grid+95%
Freeman Township has the more walkable street grid
Freeman Township 3.7Sylvan Township 1.9
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $170 more a month in Freeman 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.

Sylvan Township$740/mo
Typical home $119K (Census) · tax rate 1.21% · or rent about $1,067/mo · Housing →
Freeman Township$910/mo
Typical home $151K (Census) · tax rate 0.95% · or rent about $827/mo · Housing →

The difference: $170 a month, about $2,000 a year, between Freeman Township and Sylvan 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.

Where they are

Sylvan Township and Freeman Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Sylvan TownshipFreeman TownshipSylvan TownshipFreeman Township
Sylvan Township ↔ Freeman Township5.2 miles apart · They share a border
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
C−Sylvan TownshipHealthier than 19% of U.S. towns C−Freeman TownshipHealthier than 16% 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
Sylvan TownshipFreeman Township
Snow a year61″—
January low13°F—
July high81°F—
Growing season (days)142d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)44th17th
Outdoors & history
Sylvan TownshipFreeman Township
Trails4 mi41 mi
Conserved land8.9%10.6%
Archive photos—2
Community
Sylvan TownshipFreeman 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.

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.

Sylvan TownshipFreeman Township
People
Population 1,104Lowest 1,431Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -12%Lowest MI: +2% -2.8%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 45.6±5.4Lowest 13% above MI 54±5Highest 34% above MI
Freeman Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 24.7%±4.5Highest MI: 21.2% 17.1%±3.5Lowest MI: 21.2%
Sylvan Township and Freeman Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 24.4%±4.3Lowest MI: 18.6% 28.7%±6.3Highest MI: 18.6%
Freeman Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 12.5%Highest MI: 32.4% 11.2%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.1%±0.8Lowest MI: 6.1% 1.3%±1.3Highest MI: 6.1%
Freeman Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $43,583±$5kLowest 40% below MI $54,063±$7kHighest 26% below MI
Freeman Township and Sylvan Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $119,000±$14kLowest 49% below MI $150,600±$17kHighest 35% below MI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,067±$109Highest 5% below MI $827±$55Lowest 27% below MI
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,440Highest 50% below MI $1,438Lowest 50% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 48.1%±25.2Highest MI: 50.4% 27.3%±76.8Lowest MI: 50.4%
Sylvan Township and Freeman Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 20.5%Highest MI: 13.2% 9.9%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 91.2%Lowest MI: 73.2% 95.7%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1979Lowest 7 yrs newer than MI 1991Highest 19 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 25 minLowest about the MI average 36 minHighest 50% above MI
Work from home 2.6%±2Lowest MI: 13.5% 16%±7.4Highest MI: 13.5%
Work in townworking residents 1.5%Highest 1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 24.3 miLowest 31.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.26Highest 0.07Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Evart (17%)Clare (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Freeman TownshipFew work in Sylvan Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 8.9%Lowest 10.6%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 4.4 miLowest 41.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miLowest 1.2 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 1.9Lowest 3.7Highest
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.

Sylvan Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Sylvan Township’s Town Square.

Freeman Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freeman Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Sylvan Township

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+ Compare
Orient Township632 people · $173K homes
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Middle Branch Township849 people · $139K homes
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Osceola Township1,072 people · $154K homes

Towns like Sylvan Township

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Richland Township1,062 people · $107K homes
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Fairgrove Township1,428 people · $103K homes
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+ Compare
Arenac Township891 people · $142K homes
+ Compare
Nadeau Township1,152 people · $158K 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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