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Compare towns

Union Township vs Leslie

45 miles apart. The biggest differences: street grid (13.5× in Leslie) and property tax bill (+78% in Leslie).

U ×
Union Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsBranch County · 2,962 people
×
Leslie, MIOne of the safest townsMichigan · 2,129 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.

Union TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health81% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Union Township →
LeslieOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 71%of U.S. towns we grade HealthHealthier than 63%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Leslie →
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.

Street grid13.5×
Leslie has the more walkable street grid
Leslie 59.5Union Township 4.4
Property tax bill+78%
Tax bills are bigger in Leslie
Leslie $2,649Union Township $1,492
Jobs per worker+93%
Leslie is more of a job hub
Leslie 0.56Union Township 0.29
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $830 more a month in Leslie

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.

Union Township$790/mo
Typical home $126K (Census) · tax rate 1.18% · or rent about $873/mo · Housing →
Leslie$1,620/mo
Typical home $241K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.77% · or rent about $1,057/mo · Housing →

The difference: $830 a month, about $10,000 a year, between Leslie and Union 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.

Safety
–Union TownshipNot graded B+LeslieSafer than 71% of U.S. towns
Schools
C+Union TownshipBetter than 43% of districts in the state C+LeslieBetter than 44% of districts in the state
Health
C−Union TownshipHealthier than 19% of U.S. towns BLeslieHealthier than 63% 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
Union TownshipLeslie
Snow a year43″36″
January low16°F18°F
July high82°F83°F
Growing season (days)163d173d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)30th30th
Outdoors & history
Union TownshipLeslie
Trails2 mi0 mi
Conserved land0%1.9%
Settled—1836
National Register places1—
Archive photos1—
Community
Union TownshipLeslie
Library hours a week40 hrs38 hrs
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.

Where they are

45 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Union TownshipBranch CountyLeslieMI
Union Township ↔ Leslie45 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.

Union TownshipLeslie
People
Population 2,962Highest 2,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2.6%Lowest MI: +2% +4.1%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 33.1±5.6Highest 18% below MI 32±3.7Lowest 20% below MI
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 30.7%±6.2Highest MI: 21.2% 30.3%±2.8Lowest MI: 21.2%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 12.6%±2.3Highest MI: 18.6% 10.8%±1.6Lowest MI: 18.6%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 17.6%Lowest MI: 32.4% 20.4%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.6%±2.6Lowest MI: 6.1% 4.1%±1.9Highest MI: 6.1%
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $64,107±$11kLowest 12% below MI $73,654±$8kHighest about the MI average
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $126,400±$22kLowest 45% below MI $149,700±$15kHighest 35% below MI
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $873±$204Lowest 23% below MI $1,057±$104Highest 6% below MI
Leslie and Union Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,492Lowest 49% below MI $2,649Highest 9% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 41%±19.3Highest MI: 50.4% 22.9%±9.3Lowest MI: 50.4%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.4%Highest MI: 13.2% 12.9%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 70.9%Lowest MI: 73.2% 73.5%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1953Highest 19 yrs older than MI 1949Lowest 23 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minLowest 11% above MI 27 minHighest 13% above MI
Work from home 10.5%±4.5Highest MI: 13.5% 7.3%±3.7Lowest MI: 13.5%
Union Township and Leslie are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 6.2%Highest 4.8%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.3 miLowest 20.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.29Lowest 0.56Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Coldwater (16%)Lansing (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in LeslieFew work in Union Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 1.9%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 1.9 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 miHighest 0.0 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 2Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 4.4Lowest 59.5Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #400 of 493 in MI—
School district Union City Community SchoolsLeslie Public Schools
High school in town Union City High SchoolNone in town
Students per teacherat that high school 12.7 —
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.

Union Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Union Township’s Town Square.

Leslie neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Leslie’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Union Township and Leslie

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Bordering Union Township

+ Compare
Sherwood Township2,232 people · $130K homes
G
+ Compare
Girard Township1,694 people · $242K homes
B
+ Compare
Burlington Township1,636 people · $172K homes
B
+ Compare
Batavia Township1,010 people · $133K homes

Towns like Union Township

U
+ Compare
Union City1,940 people · $108K homes
+ Compare
Homer Township2,903 people · $144K homes
M
+ Compare
Mason Township2,836 people · $205K homes
C
+ Compare
Capac1,970 people · $162K 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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