Carlton
Surrounded by nature
The quick answer
Carlton is a township, part of Lakewood Public Schools. Homes here typically sell for around $351,000.
8 homes for sale·Median $351K·Walkability 0.5/10·Schools 6.4/10
Tree lines frame the roads out here, and the lots sprawl—five acres, ten acres, sometimes more, with wetlands and small creeks threading through the back. Homes sit well back from the pavement, their driveways long enough to mean privacy. You're roughly halfway between Gerald R. Ford International Airport (about 34 minutes) and the smaller towns that dot Barry County, which puts you close enough to amenities without feeling tethered to them. A grocery store and restaurants sit about two miles away; a coffee shop just over two. Middle Lake Public Access is 1.7 miles out if you want to fish for bluegill, crappie, or bass. The architecture here runs practical—ranch homes with cathedral ceilings, pole barns for the tools and hobbies that come with land, main-floor laundries, walkout decks facing open ground. Granite countertops and updated windows show owners stick around and invest in their places. This is the kind of stretch where a newly renovated home can still have real acreage, where you can see the work someone put in over years, and where space feels like the whole point.
Why people love it here
Lake life
- Middle Lake within walking distance
- Lower Lake: 6 min drive
- Middle Lake Public Access: 5 min drive
$86K median household income
- $351K median · 22 sales in last 12mo
Explore Carlton
Same name, different focus — Carlton is also covered as:
- Carlton Community — community details
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Carlton
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,385/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
22 homes sold in Carlton this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthFlood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Middle Lake Public Access
1.7 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Middle Lake
0.0 mi
Median Income
$86K
Household
Median Sale Price
$351K
22 sales in last 12mo
Expected Rent
$1,325/mo
$1,175 – $1,500 · wider-area estimate
Based on 5 rated schools nearby
Range: 5/10 to 8/10
School District: Lakewood Public Schools
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Middle Lake Public Access
Lower Lake
+1 more
Beach in Vedder Rd & M 50 Area
East
Hastings Dog Park
Hastings Public Library
Childcare Center on W Vedder Rd
Hastings 4
Most of Carlton is policed by the Barry County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (415 per 100,000 residents) and burglary (141 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
For perspective, homicide — the most serious crime — was reported at about 0.002% of the population, roughly 1 in 50,000 residents.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 415 |
| Burglary | 141 |
| Aggravated assault | 82 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 50 |
| Rape | 41 |
| Homicide | 2 |
| Robbery | 0 |
| Arson | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Barry County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Barry County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Carlton alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Carlton home (around $351,250) at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $56k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,103 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Carlton household earns $86,174 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $557,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,103/mo | $56,070 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,460/mo | $65,602 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,580/mo | $68,807 |
Estimates use a 6.66% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price and median property taxes, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
4 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$37K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$119K
Per listing
Who actually lends in Carlton, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Homeowners refinancing an existing mortgage
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$905/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,335 kWh/yr · offsets ~60% of a typical home's use
Private well
Rural township; individual wells.
Septic - individual
Individual septic systems.
Resident-arranged hauler
Curbside trash resident-arranged.
Consumers Energy Co|Great Lakes Energy Coop · ~14.3¢/kWh
Standard provider.
Confirm by addressWoodland & Hastings fire departments (split)
Serviced by Woodland FD; Hastings FD covers half of Carlton Township.
Source: carltontownship.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Carlton are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
Median Income
$86K
Home Value (Census)
$236K
Expected Rent
$1,325/mo
$1,175 – $1,500 · wider-area estimate
Atlas — Grand Rapids Real Estate
Local real estate specialists
Questions about Carlton? Our team can help with availability, schools, and what it's really like to live here.
Living in Carlton: the details
Is Carlton a good place to live?
Carlton suits buyers looking for green space nearby — here is what the data shows. For getting around, it is mostly a drive-first area, so you will use a car for groceries, dining and errands. This township is part of Lakewood Public Schools. The going price is around $351,000.
What does it cost to live in Carlton?
The median home value in Carlton is about $351,000. There are 8 homes for sale here right now and 22 homes sold here in the past year.
Frequently asked about Carlton
- What do homes cost in Carlton?
- The median home value in Carlton is about $351,250. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Carlton housing market?
- there are 8 homes for sale in Carlton right now, and 22 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Carlton?
- Carlton is served by Lakewood Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Northeastern Elementary School (8/10).
- Is Carlton walkable?
- Carlton scores 0.5/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
