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

–White CloudNot graded B−ColonSafer than 48% of U.S. towns

Schools

CWhite CloudBetter than 30% of districts in the state –ColonNot graded

Health

DWhite CloudHealthier than 9% of U.S. towns C−ColonHealthier than 21% 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%

White Cloud$1,280/mo

Typical home $209K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.07% · or rent about $831/mo · Housing →

Colon$1,260/mo

Typical home $209K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.92% · or rent about $785/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.

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

White CloudColon

Snow a year64″41″

January low—17°F

July high—82°F

Growing season (days)—170d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)22nd 47th

Outdoors & history

White CloudColon

Trails3 mi 0 mi

Conserved land6.3%0%

Settled—1844

Archive photos4 7

Famous people born here2 2

Community

White CloudColon

Library hours a week45 hrs 36 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

112 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

White CloudMI ColonMI

White Cloud ↔ Colon112 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

White CloudColon

People

Population 1,280Lowest 1,570Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +5%Highest MI: +2% +2.2%Lowest MI: +2%

Median age 39.3±8.5Highest about the MI average 39±6.1Lowest about the MI average

White Cloud and Colon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 20.2%±4.2Lowest MI: 21.2% 24%±5.8Highest MI: 21.2%

Colon and White Cloud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 20.6%±3.7Highest MI: 18.6% 19.7%±4.5Lowest MI: 18.6%

White Cloud and Colon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 14.4%Lowest MI: 32.4% 17.4%Highest MI: 32.4%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.2%±1.3Lowest MI: 6.1% 5.4%±3.2Highest MI: 6.1%

Colon and White Cloud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $45,192±$10kLowest 38% below MI $58,542±$10kHighest 20% below MI

Colon and White Cloud are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $165,900±$25kHighest 28% below MI $153,500±$31kLowest 34% below MI

White Cloud and Colon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $831±$108Highest 26% below MI $785±$73Lowest 30% below MI

White Cloud and Colon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $1,781Highest 39% below MI $1,414Lowest 51% below MI

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 75.7%±23.1Highest MI: 50.4% 45%±21.4Lowest MI: 50.4%

White Cloud and Colon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 15.1%Highest MI: 13.2% 14.3%Lowest MI: 13.2%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 65.6%Lowest MI: 73.2% 71.4%Highest MI: 73.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1971Highest 1 yr older than MI 1953Lowest 19 yrs older than MI

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 33 minHighest 35% above MI 21 minLowest 12% below MI

Work from home 10%±5.4Highest MI: 13.5% 8%±6.1Lowest MI: 13.5%

White Cloud and Colon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 8.6%Highest 7.8%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 32.3 miHighest 17.3 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.84Highest 0.75Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Grand Rapids (8%)Sturgis (10%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColonFew work in White Cloud

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 6.3%Highest 0%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 2.5 miHighest 0.3 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.3 miHighest 0.2 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Highest 2Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 32.3Lowest 46.9Highest

Schools

School district White Cloud Public Schools—

High school in town White Cloud High School—

Students per teacherat that high school 22.8 —

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.

White Cloud neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to White Cloud’s Town Square.

Colon neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colon’s Town Square.

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Bordering White Cloud

+ Compare

Wilcox Township982 people · $121K homes

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Everett Township1,832 people · $164K homes

Towns like White Cloud

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White Pigeon1,760 people · $150K homes

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Forest Township1,280 people · $164K homes

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Breckenridge1,517 people · $112K homes

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Lawton2,104 people · $171K 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.

White Cloud vs Colon

Two towns, two different strengths

Where they part ways

Grades and rankings, side by side

A typical home costs about the same each month

What daily life feels like in each

112 miles apart

What matters to you?

Ask the people who live there

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Bordering White Cloud

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