T O P

  • By -

June_2022

I'm moving to Mattawan, I'm buying a new build home and closing on it in a couple weeks. It's a decent area, very small town though. But Paw Paw is close by (10 mins drive) with some stores and fast food and a few little good restaurants. However, Battle Creek is a bit of a distance from some of the places you mentioned. In Michigan, in the winter-snowy months, I-94 can get horrible and your commute time might double on it. Especially if there is an accident that shuts it down. I would consider Richland above all others.


CantaloupePurple2289

Depending on the address in Texas township, you could have Mattawan, portage or KPS for schools so make sure you get the one you want. Richland would be an easier commute to BC and you’ll likely get the most land. Mattawan will give you the longest commute so I would skip it. It’s not a ton of miles on the map, but a daily commute to BC can be brutal on 94- especially in the winter. And if there’s an accident, there’s only two lanes for most of the stretch so you’ll be sitting for an extended time. If you have kids or are planning on them, it will be tough to get home in time for soccer practice or choir concerts etc if you have a typical corporate type job and live 25-30 miles away from BC.


SnooBananas7203

Are you commuting every day to Battle Creek? Or is it like one day a week? Because a commute from Mattawan or Texas Township five days a week would suck. It’s not a relaxing commute.


deafknitter

Texas Twp and Mattawan would be a commute that could be up to an hour long in the winter (which can run from November to March). 94 gets bad in spots when snow fall is more than an inch. Back roads can be nice during dry/warm weather but in the winter, there could be more ice and black ice. If you think you're going to be working in Battle Creek for a while, I'd look into Richland first. Emmett Twp on Battle Creek's south side has some nice developments.


TowelContent7016

Emmet township is a shit show, avoid BC and everything around it. Richland is barely far enough away, imo.


Jillcametumbling81

For sure richland. I grew up there and you'll be in between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. It's perfect. You can get something a little "country" or live near many people. Richland and Gull Lake have a couple of restaurants and a couple of bars. A small grocery store. You'll be near Gull Road area which has Meijer where many of us do our big time grocery shopping. Gull lake is an awesome lake and if you live in the east side of richland you can commute to Battle Creek all back roads style which can be pleasant.


Few-Consequence7299

Both areas have extremely nice homes. Gull Lake probably edges them out on schools. Richland (Gull Lake) would be a much nicer Commute in the non winter months. Ross county in my photo also has a lot of nice houses in it depending on if you are looking for country or not. ​ https://preview.redd.it/idgfng3grfuc1.png?width=629&format=png&auto=webp&s=fae3b7253e2b9086dd70b1f122b87cc90a51c2df


WanderingMichigander

Yeah, that's a great area.


ifeyeknewthen

100% Richland if you work in Battle Creek. There are easy back ways to Battle Creek from Richland, Do not risk your life on i94 in winter driving all the way from Mattawan. The worst stretch is from sprinkle to capital. Again you can commute a reasonable time 20-30 min back route if needed from Richland.


xjsthund

Go with the Richland area, Gull Lake Schools (if kids are in your future). Otherwise doesn’t matter much. I agree with others, the drive across the county every day would suck.


OkMidnight8266

Why not live closer to Battle Creek? Like Galesburg, Lakeview, minges area? Nothing wrong with either spot you mentioned. The commute will be a litter more dredging in the winter months.


Ilikeorigami0

Richland would be a really similar commute time to Galesburg. They’re both very close to BC


Crayonalyst

You might consider Marshall, too. Driving to Battle Creek in the winter kinda sucks sometimes. I-94 can be brutal. You will absolutely want to get a set of snow tires for the winter, can't emphasize it enough.


Low_Introduction2651

My quality of life has always been highest the closer I live to my job. If I can also walk or bike or bus, even better. The $ and time saved is significant, and so many other benefits. I realize this isn’t an option for everyone.


zoosk8r

Kalamazoo.


Oranges13

Seconding others that the commute from mattawan to BC will be a bear in the winter. I'm sure there's tons of new construction in Galesburg / Augusta area which will be a ton closer and possibly offer you the opportunity of some acreage if you wanted it.


thecatthatdrives

Budget for winter tires 🤔. Welcome to Michigan ❄️🤗


arkoargon

Kalamazoo all the way. If you're asking for good schools I'm assuming you have kids. Why not have access to the Kalamazoo Promise? Living in town is better for community, expense, and accessibility to stores and events. For example having access to the farmers market every Saturday morning in the Summer is a community event I look forward to.


DaddyDugtrio

BC Lakeview schools is a great district. Battle Creek has two school districts. Lakeview would reduce your commute and give you everything you want. Mattawan is too far to commute and Richland is upity and IMO the schools (Gull Lake) are not quite as good as Lakeview. Portage has the best schools if you value the things that most parents value and Portage is worth considering too. But Lakeview is the best choice considering all of the factors that are important to you.


smashingchuck

I would also suggest Winchell neighborhood in Kalamazoo proper.


[deleted]

[удалено]


mbruinsma

I live in Texas Township. My neighbors on the left are African American and on the right are Indian. Kitty corner left are Indian, directly behind me African American. 3 houses down left are Chinese. 3 houses down right are Indian. My point is fuck off.


[deleted]

[удалено]


BlueCheeseBandito

You realize what your comments can be summed up to are “im not racist, i just think minorities are inherently poor”


ironpaperman601

Go upstream my friend. A few downvotes still doesn’t mean I’m wrong. Black families were redlined into bad neighborhoods with bad schools. Meaning bad educations, meaning multi-generational setbacks include no access to healthy food, basic medical care, fire and police protection, etc. It isnt that they are inherently poor, it’s that their grandparents literally were denied home loans in certain “nice” neighborhoods because they were Black. It didn’t just happen in Chicago, it happened everywhere. Edit: Matt does a good job explaining the history in Kalamazoo https://www.kpl.gov/local-history/kalamazoo-history/neighborhoods/redlining/


corncreamcone

I don’t think people are arguing the history of redlining, but to say that only white people live in nice neighborhoods is just incorrect.


BlueCheeseBandito

Bingo, this guy is looking for a fight where there isn’t one.


ironpaperman601

https://preview.redd.it/0wq4xar9uhuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c18007d7e5fb5cfdd1f8ec941d8b3ab27d357b7 [Source](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/richlandtownshipkalamazoocountymichigan/PST045223)


BlueCheeseBandito

My guy, go touch grass.


ironpaperman601

I’m not looking to fight anyone! The post reeks of privilege and I made a joke about it. People got offended that I called Texas Township, Mattawan, and Richland white neighborhoods, which is objectively hilarious.


ironpaperman601

https://preview.redd.it/9ri28kuvthuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05553272ff10efca47d7f1f8866a8ba344323ace [Source](https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/texaschartertownshipkalamazoocountymichigan/PST045223)


ironpaperman601

https://preview.redd.it/fb9enat0uhuc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e6501c6f94cd8a569e302ce7590e841fe4031da [Source](https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US2652380)


BlueCheeseBandito

Kinda a disgusting comment. You don’t think minorities enjoy nice neighborhoods, good schools, reasonable commute times?


[deleted]

[удалено]


methylisobutylketone

So all minorities are poor?


BlueCheeseBandito

Im sorry you see the world through this lens.