Carrollton offers small-community living near Saginaw amenities
Sitting at the bend of the Saginaw River, Carrollton is a small township that was established back in 1866. It's part of the larger Saginaw region, and while it may not have sprawling shopping plazas or business districts, Carrollton offers its residents convenience to urban amenities. "It's an extremely small area, so it's very tight-knit, but you're close to everything you could want in the city," says Mary Bourbina, city manager of Zilwaukee, Carrollton's neighboring city. "It's very much a bedroom community. I think people like that it's affordable compared to other parts of our county." Carrollton's location on the river offers another plus, as residents are within walking or biking distance of water recreation.
Older homes offering architectural variety
The residential streets in Carrollton are quiet and interwoven throughout the community, having been built a couple of decades after its establishment. Carrollton is not a township of modern construction; its homes reflect its long-lasting roots, with most built between the early to mid-20th century. While classic ranch and split-level styles are the most prominent architectural types in Carrollton, there are pops of diversity, from Cape Cods to Tudor cottages. The median sales price for single-family homes in Carrollton is $165,000, compared to Saginaw Township's median of $220,000.
Local recreation at township parks and the Saginaw River
The township maintains two green spaces around the community, Hanchett and Sherman Park. Both have playgrounds and basketball courts for visitors. The community's west side is bordered by Haithco Park, which is anchored by a fishing lake and offers a walking path, volleyball courts and a BMX track. "The parks around this area are very well-maintained," Bourbina says. Our communities share the Zilwaukee Riverfront Park because it has a nice walking trail and fishing piers." The Iron Belle Trail, a paved pathway of over 2,000 miles that runs through Michigan, has a designated trailhead in Carrollton.
Education options within Carrollton
The township has its own education district, Carrollton Public Schools, which operates three main schools, an early learning center and an alternative high school. Many local kids will start at Carrollton Elementary before heading to Carrollton Middle, both of which receive a C from Niche. Carrollton High, which gets a B-minus, has a detailed school improvement plan to increase literacy and mathematics skills while decreasing the percentage of absences. The high school also has numerous extracurricular activities and sports available to its students, with several alums having moved on to the NFL.
Nearby sprawling shopping plazas and long-standing local restaurants
Though Carrollton has no significant shopping plazas, it is less than five miles from the extensive retail areas that line Route 84. These areas house the most retailers, big-box stores and chain restaurants in Saginaw County. On the community's south side are a few locally owned and operated restaurants that have been serving residents for years, including Mel's Tavern, a go-to watering hole with beer on tap and classic bar food.
Commuting on the interstate and close to health care
Carrollton's west side is bordered by Interstate 675, which has exchange ramps to Interstate 75 just north of the area. Both are major roads for getting around Saginaw County and nearby cities, with I-75 running all the way to Lake Superior and the Canadian border. Carrollton is only 3 miles from MyMichigan Medical Center's Saginaw campus, the county's largest hospital.
