Burlington Township

Burlington Township offers homes in the southeastern Michigan countryside where residents can enjoy a laidback rural lifestyle. It’s also home to the village of Clifford, a cozy hamlet with a bright blue water tower and rustic, historic buildings dating back to the 19th and early 20th century. Residents love the wide-open space and colorful scenery of the four seasons. “It’s got a post office, a library and a café, but there’s not much else. People like to live there because it’s so quiet,” says Realtor Taylor Donley of Donley Realty, who lives in Burlington Township.

The town, which has around 300 residents, traces its history back to the mid- and late-1800s when several rail lines were extended through the area. Remnants of that bygone era can still be found today at places like the Historic Clifford Grain Elevator, a candy-apple red building that was restored over a decade ago and now operates as an event hall. There are also several historic churches and the Clifford Branch of the Lapeer District Library, which is housed in a century-old schoolhouse. Clifford is also home to Rochester Gear, a large gear manufacturing plant where many residents work.

Within the village, there are a broad range of home types on display, including cozy ranch homes, bungalows and cottages as well as some spacious, older homes with unique vernacular designs. These homes typically have grassy, landscaped yards and leafy trees that keep things cool in the summertime. For homes with room to roam, there are plenty of listings along the rural roads that stretch into the agricultural flatlands just outside the village. It’s not uncommon to find homes with upwards of 10 acres of land. Home prices in the area range from as little as $115,000 for smaller homes in the village and township to upwards of $275,000 for larger homes with more acreage.

One of the perks of living in the village is Rosebud’s Café, a downhome American diner where the community gathers for coffee, breakfast and lunch. It's the only restaurant in town, so locals will have to travel to nearby North Branch for additional dining options like North Branch Bakery and North Branch Bar & Grill. For groceries, there’s Bryan’s Supermarket, also in North Branch, a family-owned grocer that opened its doors in 1976. Big box stores and major grocery chains like The Home Depot, Walmart, Kroger and Meijer can be found in the city of Lapeer, about 25 miles south of Burlington Township.

Students living in the village of Clifford can attend schools in the nearby town of Marlette, about 6 miles east, including Marlette Elementary School and Marlette Junior and Senior High School, both of which hold B ratings from Niche, an online school review site. GreatSchools, a nonprofit school review site, awarded Marlette Junior and Senior High a College Success Award in 2021, an honor given to high schools that standout for assisting students in enrolling and excelling in college. Students who live in Burlington Township but who live outside of Clifford attend schools a few miles south in North Branch, including North Branch Elementary School, Ruth Fox Middle School and North Branch High School, all of which hold B ratings from Niche.

For outdoor enjoyment, Clifford Community Park offers a centrally located playground and a skate park. "People come from all over to visit the park because it's a newer park. It's also the only skate park around, so that's a big draw for kids," Donley says. For larger parks, nature reserves and public open spaces, residents make the drive to popular regional destinations like the Lapeer State Game Area and Buttercup Beach on the Holloway Reservoir.

Burlington Township and the village of Clifford feel remote, but it’s a short drive to surrounding towns like Marlette, North Branch, Lapeer and Imlay City. It’s also about 45 miles to Flint and about 80 miles to downtown Detroit. With a small-town feel near miles of open farmland, Burlington Township is a country escape in southeast Michigan.

Written By

Daniel Berti

Photography Contributed By

Christopher Shires

Video By

Jonathan Bradley