Navigation Structures at White Lake Harbor · National Register of Historic Places
White River Township’s story
167 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1859White River Township is settled
White River TownshipMI
A town of 1,416, settled in 1859.
3 bordering townsMap →
Navigation Structures at White Lake Harbor · Photo: US Army Corps of Engineers · Public domain
Population
1,416
2025 Census estimate · +1.8% since 2020
Median home value
$349K
Census ACS
Household income
$110K
median
Median age
48.2
years
Jobs based here
39
A commuter town
Is White River Township a good place to live?
White River Township’s best subject grade is an A− for civic life; its weakest is a D for walkability. No town among the 702 in Michigan we compare has a lower share of working residents who work in town than White River Township. White River Township's public schools beat 74% of Michigan towns on state tests and graduation. Navigation Structures at White Lake Harbor is on the National Register of Historic Places. White River Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes White River Township stand out
Where White River Township beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA
Low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
White River Township3.9
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical MI town3.1
Civic lifeA−
27% more nonprofits per person
than the typical Michigan town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Small town
1,416 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Fruitland TownshipMontague TownshipClaybanks TownshipWhite River Township
How White River Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far White River Township is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 3.1 of 20; 1.6% of households have no car; 1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 22% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Jobs & income39 jobs based hereB+Open →Cost of livingTypical home $349K, 5.4 years of the Muskegon metro’s $65K median household incomeCOpen →HealthMercy Health Lakeshore Campus 12.7 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 2% conserved landC+Open →History1 place on the National RegisterBOpen →Civic life3.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA−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 White River Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in White River Township, and how to reach them.
PowerConsumers Energy20.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have White River 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 hereWhite River Township ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4943749437 100%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 White River Township.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
Most of White River Township’s workers commute out: the town has 0.1 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave White River Township for work: only 0% work in town. White River Township’s median household income is $110,000, where Michigan’s towns sit at $77,000 and U.S. towns at $80,000. White River Township’s average trip to work is 29 minutes.
0%work in town
| White River Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $110,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 4% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 12% | 10% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In White River Township0%
Muskegon14%
Montague13%
Whitehall13%
Grand Rapids5%
17 mi
median commute distance
39
jobs based in White River Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 9% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Low risk in White River Township, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 78% of U.S. communities. Since 1985, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in White River Township.
22risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingStrong windTornadoes
6
paid flood claims since 1985
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Older than Michigan overall
People 65 and older are 29% of residents (19% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 18% of residents (22% statewide). 42% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or more in White River Township, above both Michigan’s towns (26%) and U.S. towns (29%). The median age in White River Township is 48.2 years.
48.2median age · MI 40.2
| White River Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 29% | 19% | 18% |
| Median age | 48.2 years | 42.5 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 26% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 21% | 22% |
White River TownshipMichiganUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma2%
High school25%
Some college22%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s28%
Graduate15%
Women and men · all residents
48% women, 52% men
About 108 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±1.8 points). Across Michigan, 50.4% of residents are women.
| White River Township | MI | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 10.5% | 11.2% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 7.4% | 10.1% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.4% | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.8% | 13.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 9.7% | 12.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.2% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 13.6% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 17.9% | 11.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 11.3% | 7.4% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.5% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 24.6% | 28% | 26% |
| Some college | 21.7% | 21.9% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10% | 9.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 27.5% | 19.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.7% | 12.7% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 1,400, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
In White River Township, expect snowy winters and pleasant summers
White River Township has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. July afternoons reach 79°, January nights drop to 18° and about 69 inches of snow falls in a winter.
69″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–33°
Spring35–54°
Summer58–77°
Fall42–58°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 19
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsC+
1.9% of White River Township is conserved land
1.0 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Meinert Park, at 119 acres.
1.9%conserved
| White River Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.1 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 1.9% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
1.9%
conserved · 194 of 10,469 acres
1.0 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Medbery Park | 0.5 mi | 10 |
| 2. Meinert Park | — | 119 |
| 3. West Michigan Underwater Preserve | — | 11 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
White River Township is less healthy than 51% of U.S. towns
White River Township beats the Michigan average on 5 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 41% of White River Township adults have obesity.
49%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| White River Township | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 37% | 35% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 32% | 33% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 27% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 34% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
5 better25 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | White River Township | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 11.4% | 15.4% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 9.1% | 11.9% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.7% | 8.9% |
Mercy Health Lakeshore Campus
12.7 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 18 attractions →Michigan's Adventure and 6 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around White River Township. Close and well known come first.
9 mi Theme parkMichigan's Adventure
40 mi National forestManistee National Forest
16 mi MuseumUSS LST-39316 mi Stadium & arenaMercy Health Arena
9 mi Theme parkWildWater Adventure
16 mi MuseumMuskegon Museum of Art
40 mi National forestManistee National Forest16 mi MuseumUSS LST-39316 mi Stadium & arenaMercy Health Arena9 mi Theme parkWildWater Adventure16 mi MuseumMuskegon Museum of ArtSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Manistee National Forest: RomanKahler, CC BY-SA 4.0 · USS LST-393: USN, Public domain · WildWater Adventure: Larry Pieniazek, CC BY 2.5 · Muskegon Museum of Art: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Keep exploring
Everything we know about White River Township
18pages on White River Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of White River Township; the nearest are
Muskegon Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Muskegon16.7 mi$7,250 in-state tuitionGrand Valley State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Allendale41.8 mi$15,140 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 White River Township residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave White River Township for work
Where White River Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
39jobs based in White River Township
0%of working residents work in town
17 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About White River Township
Township in Michigan, United States
White River Township is a civil township of Muskegon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,383 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 16 sq mi
- Elevation
- 643 ft
Questions about White River Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is White River 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.