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Wheeler Township vs Bethany Township

Next-door neighbors in Gratiot County. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+32.2 pts in Bethany Township) and trails (5× in Bethany Township).

W ×
Wheeler Township, MIHomes around $193KGratiot County · 2,591 people
B ×
Bethany Township, MIOne of the healthiest townsGratiot County · 1,162 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.

Wheeler TownshipHomes around $193K
Housing$193K typical home28% below the MI typical home Health60% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Wheeler Township →
Bethany TownshipOne of the healthiest towns
Health80% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Bethany 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.

Growth since 2010+32.2 pts
Bethany Township has grown faster since 2010
Bethany Township +26%Wheeler Township -6.2%
Trails5×
Bethany Township has more miles of trail
Bethany Township 1.5 miWheeler Township 0.3 mi
Home values+49%
Homes cost more in Bethany Township
Bethany Township $172,400Wheeler Township $115,400
Street grid+86%
Wheeler Township has the more walkable street grid
Wheeler Township 3.9Bethany Township 2.1
Homeowners+16.6 pts renters
Wheeler Township has more renters
Bethany Township 92.3%Wheeler Township 75.7%
Size2.2×
Wheeler Township is the bigger place
Wheeler Township 2,591Bethany Township 1,162
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $240 more a month in Wheeler 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.

Wheeler Township$1,290/mo
Typical home $193K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.76% · or rent about $694/mo · Housing →
Bethany Township$1,050/mo
Typical home $172K (Census) · tax rate 1.04% · or rent about $875/mo · Housing →

The difference: $240 a month, about $2,900 a year, between Wheeler Township and Bethany 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.

Schools
B−Wheeler TownshipBetter than 53% of districts in the state –Bethany TownshipNot graded
Health
C+Wheeler TownshipHealthier than 40% of U.S. towns C−Bethany TownshipHealthier than 20% of U.S. towns
Where they are

Wheeler Township and Bethany Township share a border

Straight-line miles between town centers.

Wheeler TownshipBethany TownshipWheeler TownshipBethany Township
Wheeler Township ↔ Bethany Township6.2 miles apart · They share a border · Same county
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
Wheeler TownshipBethany Township
Snow a year39″39″
January low15°F15°F
July high82°F82°F
Growing season (days)164d164d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)39th49th
Outdoors & history
Wheeler TownshipBethany Township
Trails0 mi2 mi
Conserved land0.3%0.5%
Settled—1858
Community
Wheeler TownshipBethany Township
Library hours a week30 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.

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.

Wheeler TownshipBethany Township
People
Population 2,591Highest 1,162Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -6.2%Lowest MI: +2% +26%Highest MI: +2%
Median age 42.8±3.6Lowest 6% above MI 49.6±6.9Highest 23% above MI
Bethany Township and Wheeler Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 22.4%±4.2Highest MI: 21.2% 19.8%±4.3Lowest MI: 21.2%
Wheeler Township and Bethany Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 17.9%±3.3Lowest MI: 18.6% 23.8%±4Highest MI: 18.6%
Bethany Township and Wheeler Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 15.8%Lowest MI: 32.4% 17.4%Highest MI: 32.4%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.9%±1.8Highest MI: 6.1% 3%±1.8Lowest MI: 6.1%
Wheeler Township and Bethany Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $61,149±$5kLowest 16% below MI $80,461±$16kHighest 10% above MI
Bethany Township and Wheeler Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $115,400±$12kLowest 50% below MI $172,400±$25kHighest 26% below MI
Rentmedian gross, monthly $694±$174Lowest 39% below MI $875±$111Highest 22% below MI
Bethany Township and Wheeler Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,030Highest 30% below MI $1,800Lowest 38% below MI
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 38.3%±14.1Highest MI: 50.4% 34.4%±52.5Lowest MI: 50.4%
Wheeler Township and Bethany Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 12.3%Highest MI: 13.2% 3.8%Lowest MI: 13.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 75.7%Lowest MI: 73.2% 92.3%Highest MI: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1963Lowest 9 yrs older than MI 1966Highest 6 yrs older than MI
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 12% above MI 23 minLowest 3% below MI
Work from home 4.9%±2.7Highest MI: 13.5% 4.7%±2.1Lowest MI: 13.5%
Wheeler Township and Bethany Township are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 11.5%Highest 3.1%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 19.8 miHighest 15.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.84Highest 0.77Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Midland (8%)Alma (18%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Bethany TownshipFew work in Wheeler Township
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 0.3%Lowest 0.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 1.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 3.9Highest 2.1Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #319 of 493 in MI—
School district Breckenridge Community Schools—
High school in town Breckenridge MiddleHigh School—
Students per teacherat that high school 15.5 —
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.

Wheeler Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Wheeler Township’s Town Square.

Bethany Township neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bethany Township’s Town Square.

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Bordering Wheeler Township

P
+ Compare
Porter Township1,181 people · $167K homes
L
+ Compare
Lafayette Township573 people · $164K homes

Towns like Wheeler Township

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Norway2,833 people · $91K homes
B
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Bloomingdale Township2,972 people · $136K homes
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Durand3,483 people · $140K homes
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Chesaning2,484 people · $137K 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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