East China Township vs St. Clair: property taxes compared
East China Township is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 27.2762 mills against St. Clair's 38.9814 — about $2,048 a year less on a $350,000 home at the uncapped taxable value.
Side by side
| Municipality | Homestead mills | County rank | $250,000 | $350,000 | $500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East China Township | 27.2762 | 18 of 31 | $3,410 | $4,773 | $6,819 |
| St. Clair | 38.9814 | 26 of 31 | $4,873 | $6,822 | $9,745 |
Dollar columns are the annual homestead bill at the uncapped taxable value — roughly half the purchase price. Multi-district cities show their full rate range; the rank and dollar figures use each city's lowest district.
Same schools, different bill
These two municipalities share 1 school district. A school district is not a taxing unit — the city millage stacks on top — so the same classrooms can cost a different amount per year depending on which side of the municipal line the house sits.
| Shared district | East China Township | St. Clair | Gap on $350k |
|---|---|---|---|
| East China Twp School District | 27.2762 | 38.9814 | $2,048/yr |
What the difference costs over time
Held for 10 years, that gap compounds to $20,484 at today's rates on a $350,000 home — before any millage change. At $250,000 the annual difference is $1,463; at $500,000 it is $2,926. The gap scales with price, so it matters more at the top of each city's market than at the bottom.
Neither city splits across districts at different rates, so an address anywhere in East China Township pays the 27.2762-mill homestead rate and anywhere in St. Clair pays 38.9814. The comparison above is the whole story.
All figures use each city's lowest homestead rate at the uncapped taxable value — roughly half the purchase price — from the Michigan Department of Treasury's 2025 Total Rates report. A non-homestead property adds about 18 mills on top in either city.
Common questions
Is East China Township or St. Clair cheaper for property taxes?
East China Township is the cheaper of the two. Its lowest homestead rate is 27.2762 mills against St. Clair's 38.9814 — about $2,048 a year less on a $350,000 home at the uncapped taxable value.
How much more are property taxes in St. Clair than East China Township?
About $2,048 a year on a $350,000 home — 38.9814 mills versus 27.2762 at each city's lowest homestead rate, using the official 2025 Michigan Treasury millage report.
Do East China Township and St. Clair share any school districts?
Yes — East China Twp School District. The rate still differs across the municipal line because city millage stacks on top of the school levy, so the same district can cost more in one city than the other.
Will my bill match what the listing shows?
Usually not, in either city. Michigan taxable value uncaps the year after a sale and resets to roughly half the purchase price, so the seller's capped bill on the listing is almost always lower than what you will pay.