Rabbit River, 2013
Wayland Township’s story
Wayland Township in pictures
Census counts: 585 in 1870, 4,435 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1959 on.
Explore the history →Wayland TownshipMI
3,620 residents make their home in this town in Michigan.
Population
3,620
2025 Census estimate · +1.5% since 2020
Median home value
$330K
Census ACS
Household income
$91K
median
Median age
46.5
years
Jobs based here
1,592
Balanced
TownGrade
A−
#155 of 697 in MI
Is Wayland Township a good place to live?
Plenty in its favour, and one clear drawback. Overall, Wayland Township earns an A−: better than 80% of U.S. towns, and 155th of 697 in Michigan. Its standout strength is schools: its schools rank ahead of 83% of Michigan towns. It is strong on incomes as well (A−): the median household earns $91K. The drawback is walkability. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 83% of U.S. towns. A typical home there costs about $330K, 4 years of the Holland area’s $83K median household income. 16% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in the town, against 26% in Michigan’s towns and 29% across U.S. towns.
Figures: schools, state test and graduation results · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · home values, Zillow.
What makes Wayland Township stand out
Where Wayland Township beats most towns.
A growing town
Wayland Township has grown 17% since 2010
3,088 counted in 2010 and 3,573 in 2020; an estimated 3,620 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Wayland Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Wayland Township is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.2 of 20; 1.5% of households have no car; 0.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →SchoolsGraded on exam and test resultsA−Open →Jobs & incomeIncomes and work beat most townsA−Open →Cost of livingBetter than most of the towns comparedBOpen →HealthBeacon Allegan 15 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors3 miles of trails; 2% conserved landC+Open →HistoryBased on listed places, the town’s age and notable peopleC+Open →Civic life2.1 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 Wayland Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Wayland Township, and how to reach them.
PowerConsumers Energy20.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterYankee Springs Township water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Wayland Township’s trash rules yet
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 hereWayland Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP codes49348, 4934449348 59% · 49344 41%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 Wayland Township.
Wayland Township trades workers with Grand Rapids and other neighbors and owes part of its health edge to its incomes.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Top of a very low hazard risk in Wayland Township: inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 84% of U.S. communities. FEMA puts 54% of Wayland Township’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 19% to tornadoes.
16risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Wayland Township has snowy winters and pleasant summers
A winter brings about 68 inches of snow, with January nights at 17° and July afternoons at 83°.
68″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter20–34°
Spring36–58°
Summer59–81°
Fall41–61°
Oct 15
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most working residents commute out of Wayland Township
Wayland Township has about as many jobs (1,592) as working residents, but only 83 people both live and work here. Jobs based here grew from 457 in 2011 to 1,592.
Half commute less than 19 miles. Between 2011 and 2021, jobs in Wayland Township rose by 1,135, to 1,592. Only 5% of working residents stay in Wayland Township for work; the rest commute out. The top destinations are Grand Rapids (11%), Wyoming (8%) and Byron Township (5%).
5%work in town
| Wayland Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $91,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5% | 5.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Wayland Township5%
Grand Rapids11%
Wyoming8%
Byron Township5%
Kentwood5%
19 mi
median commute distance
1,592
jobs based in Wayland Township
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 17% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
OutdoorsC+
Open space protected for good: 2.5% of Wayland Township
Across 2 parks and preserves: 2.6 miles of trail. Wayland Township’s trail density stands at 0.1 miles per square mile.
#507for trails in MI
| Wayland Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 2.5% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
2.5%
conserved · 530 of 21,278 acres
2.6 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gun Lake County Park | — | 1 |
| 2. Selkirk Lake Public Access | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
Residents of Wayland Township are healthier than 50% of U.S. towns
Against the 9,807 U.S. towns with household incomes like Wayland Township’s, it is less healthy than 65%: its national edge comes with its incomes.
Among adults in Wayland Township, 32% sleep under 7 hours and 27% have been diagnosed with depression. Wayland Township: 18% of adults binge drink.
50%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Wayland Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 32% | 34% | 36% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 27% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
2 better30 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Wayland Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 7.4% | 8.7% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.4% | 3.7% |
Beacon Allegan
15 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: primary care
51st
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Wayland Township
18pages on Wayland Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Wayland Township; the nearest are
Davenport UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Grand Rapids15.4 mi$24,466 tuitionGrand Rapids Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Grand Rapids23.2 mi$4,179 in-state tuitionWestern Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Kalamazoo24.3 mi$15,252 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Wayland Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Wayland Township’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Wayland Township.
Hopkins TownshipWaylandLeighton TownshipYankee Springs TownshipMartin TownshipWayland Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayland Township | #155 | A− | B | — | A− | B− |
| Hopkins Township | #175 | A− | B+ | — | A− | C+ |
| Wayland | #82 | A | B | — | A− | C+ |
| Leighton Township | #142 | A− | C+ | — | A− | B+ |
| Yankee Springs Township | #202 | B+ | B− | — | A− | B+ |
| Martin Township | #381 | B− | A− | — | B− | C |
Wayland Township, Hopkins Township, Wayland, Leighton Township, Yankee Springs Township and Martin Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Wayland Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Wayland Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Wayland Township, MI a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Wayland Township grades A− overall, better than 80% of U.S. towns and #155 of 697 in Michigan. It grades B− for health and A− for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Wayland 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 B.