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Watson Township vs Rich Township

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

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

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

Watson Township$1,300/mo
Typical home $214K (Census) · tax rate 0.99% · Housing →
Rich Township$1,670/mo
Typical home $279K (Census) · tax rate 0.88% · or rent about $1,682/mo · 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
Watson TownshipRich Township
Snow a year109″49″
January low17°F—
July high83°F—
Growing season (days)156d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)16th30th
Outdoors & history
Watson TownshipRich Township
Trails2 mi2 mi
Conserved land0%1.9%
Community
Watson TownshipRich 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
C+Watson TownshipHealthier than 37% of U.S. towns CRich TownshipHealthier than 28% of U.S. towns
Where they are

133 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Watson TownshipAllegan CountyRich TownshipLapeer County
Watson Township ↔ Rich 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.

Watson TownshipRich Township
People
Population 2,094Highest 1,634Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5.5%Highest MI: +2% -7.6%Lowest MI: +2%
Median age 41.2±5Highest about the MI average 40.2±6.7Lowest 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 23.2%±3.4Lowest MI: 21.2% 24.9%±4Highest 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+ 24.2%±5.7Highest MI: 18.6% 17.3%±4.8Lowest 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+ 17.1%Highest MI: 32.4% 15.1%Lowest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 0.6%±0.8Lowest MI: 6.1% 5.1%±5.6Highest 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 $65,469±$12kLowest 10% below MI $66,000±$24kHighest 9% 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 $214,000±$15kLowest 8% below MI $279,200±$54kHighest 21% above 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 $2,110Lowest 27% below MI $2,454Highest 15% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 63.6%±58Lowest MI: 50.4% 73.1%±76.5Highest 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 16.3%Highest MI: 13.2% 6.5%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 94.9%Highest MI: 73.2% 94.4%Lowest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1986Highest 14 yrs newer than MI 1981Lowest 9 yrs newer than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minLowest 12% above MI 38 minHighest 56% above MI
Work from home 3.5%±2.2Lowest MI: 13.5% 7.2%±3.5Highest 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 0.9%Highest 0.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 20.8 miLowest 31.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.05Lowest 0.06Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Martin Township (8%)Lapeer (8%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Rich TownshipFew work in Watson Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0%Lowest 1.9%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 2.1 miLowest 2.4 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.2Highest 2.0Lowest
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.

Watson Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Watson Township’s Town Square.

Rich Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Rich Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Watson Township

+ Compare
Allegan Township4,793 people · $233K homes
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Martin Township2,713 people · $206K homes
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Hopkins Township2,740 people · $288K homes
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Otsego Township5,962 people · $265K homes

Towns like Watson Township

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Maple Valley Township2,047 people · $171K homes
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Ashland Township2,799 people · $180K homes
A
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Algansee Township2,567 people · $232K homes
A
+ Compare
Assyria Township2,008 people · $209K 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.

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