Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 1,413.
The best of Charlton Township’s subject grades are an A− for cost of living and an A for the outdoors; the weakest is a C− for walkability. 22% of the land in Charlton Township is conserved, against 4.4% in Michigan’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. The biggest place to walk is Mackinaw State Forest - Gaylord Unit, 14,703 acres with 69.8 miles of trail. Charlton Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Charlton Township beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Charlton Township is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2019 and 2 maps from 1949 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →Who provides power, water and the rest in Charlton Township, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Charlton Township.
The income of the median household for Charlton Township comes to $67,000, below both Michigan’s towns ($77,000) and U.S. towns ($80,000). Only 3% of working residents stay in Charlton Township for work; the rest commute out. Jobs based in the town fell to 154 in 2021, 133 fewer than in 2011. 6.4% of residents live below the poverty line locally.
| Charlton Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.3% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Its two schools are below. The public schools here belong to the Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools. Public school enrollment in Charlton Township: 518 students across 2 schools.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| JohannesburgLewiston ElementaryMiddle SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 313 | B− |
| JohannesburgLewiston High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 205 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
In Charlton Township, the trail density is 1.2 miles per square mile. Trails total 120 miles in 4 parks and preserves. Parks and preserves in the town: 4, covering 28,702 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mackinaw State Forest - Gaylord Unit | 69.8 mi | 14,703 |
| 2. Pigeon River Country State Forest | 18.4 mi | 13,980 |
| 3. Au Sable State Forest - Grayling Unit | 0.3 mi | 13 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Expected losses in Charlton Township break down as 63% from inland flooding and 17% from cold waves. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in three quarters of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Charlton Township’s typical July afternoon high stands at 79°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Adults 18 to 34 are 14% of residents (22% statewide); people 65 and older are 25% of residents (19% statewide). Charlton Township’s midpoint age comes in at 51.6 years. It is growing: up 4.3% since 2020, to 1,413 residents (2025 estimate). 28% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across Michigan.
| Charlton Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 25% | 19% | 18% |
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.7 points. Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Charlton Township | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.2% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 6.6% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.7% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 6.7% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 8.7% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.8% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 18.3% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 14.8% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.2% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 6.1% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.4% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 25.7% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.5% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20.4% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 7.9% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,400, single groups can be off by several points
The share of adults in Charlton Township who have been diagnosed with depression: 27%. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Charlton Township is ahead of Michigan on 6 and behind on 7. Two figures for adults in the town: 83% had a checkup this year, 14% have diabetes.
| Charlton Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 36% | 35% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 83% | 80% | 79% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| What stands out | Charlton Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.1% | 11.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.9% | 8.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.9% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
None within 15 miles of Charlton Township; the nearest are
About 6 of every 100 Charlton Township residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
Where Charlton Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2021
Civil township in Michigan, United States
Charlton Township is a civil township of Otsego County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,350 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.