Ortonville Mill · National Register of Historic Places
Brandon Township’s story
183 years in pictures
The archive holds 5 maps from 1943 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1843Brandon Township is settled
Brandon TownshipMI
A town of 15,541, settled in 1843.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: User:Bryan Duggan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
15,541
2025 Census estimate · +1% since 2020
Typical home
$440K
+2.6% in a year
Household income
$94K
median
Median age
44.4
years
Jobs based here
1,500
A commuter town
TownGrade
A
#60 of 697 in MI
Is Brandon Township a good place to live?
Brandon Township grades A overall, 60th of 697 graded towns in Michigan, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. Crime is low: it reports less per resident than 93% of U.S. towns and CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 83% of the country. It also does better than most on incomes: the median household earns $94K. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: homes are expensive, about $440K for a typical one and 5.7 times the Detroit metro’s $77K median household income. Brandon Township’s average trip to work is 33 minutes, against 25 minutes in Michigan’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Ortonville State Recreation Area, at 1,147 acres with 2.3 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Brandon Township stand out
Where Brandon Township beats most towns.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Brandon Township for work
Where Brandon Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,500jobs based in Brandon Township
5%of working residents work in town
20 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
How Brandon Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Brandon Township is from typical.
SafetyAOpen →HealthAscension Genesys Hospital 12.8 miles awayA−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 23% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.5 of 20; 1.8% of households have no car; 1.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors6% conserved landBOpen →History1 place on the National Register; 1 notable person born hereBOpen →Civic life2.5 library visits per resident; 2.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Brandon Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Brandon Township, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterClarkston Lake Estates water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Brandon Township’s trash rules yet
SchoolsBrandon School DistrictOxford Area Community Schools2 districts serve Brandon Township; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereBrandon Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes48462, 48348, 4837148462 65% · 48348 19% · 48371 17%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Brandon Township.
Brandon Township has less tooth loss than most of Michigan, sends most of its workers to Auburn Hills and beyond and sees little violent crime.
HousingCost of living grade C
Brandon Township earns a C for cost of living
The median property tax bill is $4,378, against $2,904 across Michigan, another input to its cost-of-living grade.
94% of Brandon Township households own their home. The typical Brandon Township home is worth about $440,000, up 2.6% in a year, 67% above the Michigan typical home.
$440KZillow home value
| Brandon Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 94% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,048 a month | $1,045 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Brandon Township$440K
Michigan$264K
+2.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
SchoolsA−
Public schools in Brandon Township beat 77% of Michigan districts
Its public schools are run by the Brandon School District. Two of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Brandon High School, with 648 students.
77%of MI districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| HarveySwanson Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 548 | B− |
| Brandon High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 648 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
SafetyA
Brandon Township earns an A for safety
Violent crime is rare: 11 reported in 2025, 0.7 per 1,000 residents.
Brandon Township’s property crime rate is 2.2 per 1,000 residents.
93%of U.S. towns report more crimeASafety Grade
| Brandon Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.2 per 1,000 residents | 8 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.7 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Brandon Township0.7
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Brandon Township2.2
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
93rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
97th
percentile among MI towns
11
violent crimes reported in 2025
35
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
HealthA−
Brandon Township earns an A− for health
Its widest gap with Michigan is tooth loss: 5.7% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 10.2% statewide.
19% of adults get no exercise outside work in Brandon Township. Brandon Township beats the Michigan average on 19 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 31% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Brandon Township.
83%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
| Brandon Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 25% | 25% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 34% | 36% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 19% | 19% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
19 better13 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Brandon Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 5.7% | 10.2% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 9.7% | 15.4% |
Ascension Genesys Hospital
12.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
88th
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most working residents commute out of Brandon Township
Brandon Township has 1,500 jobs for its 6,887 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. The average commute takes 32.8 minutes, against 24.2 across Michigan.
Most working residents leave Brandon Township for work: only 5% work in town. Jobs based in Brandon Township fell to 1,500 in 2021, 146 fewer than in 2011. The top destinations are Auburn Hills (8%), Troy (7%) and Waterford Township (5%).
5%work in town
| Brandon Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 20% | 10% | 11% |
| Median household income | $94,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5% | 5.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Brandon Township5%
Auburn Hills8%
Troy7%
Waterford Township5%
Pontiac4%
20 mi
median commute distance
1,500
jobs based in Brandon Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 34% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Brandon Township faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 77% of U.S. communities.
23risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In Brandon Township, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Brandon Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Brandon Township is 82°F.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–32°
Spring35–56°
Summer58–80°
Fall41–59°
Oct 14
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
#445for trails in MI
| Brandon Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.8% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
5.8%
conserved · 1,328 of 22,878 acres
5.5 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ortonville State Recreation Area | 2.3 mi | 1,147 |
| 2. Brandon Township Community Park | — | 46 |
| 3. Narrin Village Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Michigan overall
Adults 18 to 34 are 17% of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (38% statewide). 32% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across Michigan.
44.4median age · MI 40.2
| Brandon Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 32% | 26% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 21% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 20% | 19% | 18% |
Brandon TownshipMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma5%
High school25%
Some college27%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s21%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.6 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Brandon Township | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.2% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.9% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.2% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9.6% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.7% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 17.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 15.8% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.4% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.5% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.9% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 27.2% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.3% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 21.2% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.9% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Nearby attractions
All 73 attractions →Ford Field and 37 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Brandon Township. Close and well known come first.
Big draw39 mi Stadium & arenaFord Field
39 mi Stadium & arenaComerica Park
38 mi MuseumThe Henry Ford1.8M visitors a year
39 mi TheatreFox Theatre
37 mi MuseumDetroit Institute of Arts
37 mi MuseumHitsville U.S.A.Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Ford Field: Unknown, CC BY 2.5 · Comerica Park: City of Detroit, Public domain · The Henry Ford: Alvintrusty, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fox Theatre: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Detroit Institute of Arts: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hitsville U.S.A.: Blob4000 at English Wikipedia Later versions were uploaded by FuriousFreddy at , Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Brandon Township
20pages on Brandon Township
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 77% of MI districts · 5 schoolsSafetyA0.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthA−Better than MI on 19 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC$440K typical home · up 2.6% in a yearWork & commuteA−$94K median household income · 1,500 jobs hereNatural hazardsA−FEMA risk higher than 23% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Brandon Township
About 2 of every 100 Brandon Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
About Brandon Township
Charter township in Michigan, United States
Brandon Charter Township is a charter township of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 15,384 at the 2020 census. As a northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Brandon Township is about 30 miles (48.3 km) north of the city of Detroit and about 20 miles (32.2 km) southeast of Flint. The village of Ortonville is located within the township.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,037 ft
Brandon Township’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Brandon Township.
Groveland TownshipIndependence TownshipHadley TownshipOxford TownshipBrandon Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Township | #60 | A | C | A | A− | A− |
| Groveland Township | #273 | B | C | — | B+ | A− |
| Independence Township | #51 | A | C− | A− | A | A |
| Hadley Township | #308 | B | C+ | — | B+ | B+ |
| Oxford Township | #125 | A− | D | A | A− | A− |
Groveland Township and Hadley Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Brandon Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Brandon Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Brandon Township, MI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Brandon Township grades A overall, better than 91% of U.S. towns and #60 of 697 in Michigan. It grades A− for health, A for safety and A− for schools.
Is Brandon Township, MI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.