Clare County, Michigan Demographics 2026

Demographic data: ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. Sources and methodology

Clare County, Michigan has a population of 31,218, the 47th most populous county in Michigan. The median household income is $49,384 and the median home value is $133,800. The poverty rate is 21.6%.

Clare County Quick Facts

Population 31,218

Median Household Income $49,38490% MOE ±$2,661

Median Home Value $133,80090% MOE ±$9,531

Poverty Rate 21.6%90% MOE ±2.1 pts

Unemployment Rate 9.5%90% MOE ±1.5 pts

Median Age 49.0 years90% MOE ±0.3 years

Homeownership Rate 86.9%90% MOE ±4.0 pts

Affordability Ratio 2.7x

Bachelor's Degree+ 12.9%90% MOE ±1.2 pts

Adults 25+ with high school education or higher 88.7%

Cities/Places 3

Population 31,218 47th of 83

Median Income $49,384 32% lower than state

Poverty Rate 21.6%

Unemployment 9.5%

How Clare County Changed

Change from the non-overlapping 2015–2019 ACS period to 2020–2024. Earlier dollar figures are adjusted to 2024 dollars; changes marked “no clear change” are within the combined 90% margins of error.

Metric	2015–2019	2020–2024	Change
Population	30,651	31,218	+1.8%
Median household income	$48,693	$49,384	No clear change (+1.4%)
Median home value¹	$112,117	$133,800	+19.3%
Median gross rent	$796	$765	No clear change (-3.9%)

¹ The Census Bureau changed its home-value inflation adjustment beginning with the 2022 ACS; interpret that comparison with additional caution.

Median Household Income

Clare

$49,384

$72,875

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Clare

$133,800

$231,600

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.2%

$25K-$50K 27.4%

$50K-$100K 30.2%

$100K+ 19.2%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.9%

$10K-$15K

5.5%

$15K-$20K

6.5%

$20K-$25K

6.3%

$25K-$30K

5.6%

$30K-$35K

6.3%

$35K-$40K

6.0%

$40K-$45K

4.8%

$45K-$50K

4.7%

$50K-$60K

8.5%

$60K-$75K

10.8%

$75K-$100K

10.9%

$100K-$125K

8.2%

$125K-$150K

4.9%

$150K-$200K

3.3%

$200K+

2.8%

Employment

9.5% Unemployment Rate State: 5.7%|National: 5.2%

46.2% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 86.9%

Renter 13.1%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $765/mo 18.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

19.3%

18-34

16.9%

35-54

21.8%

55-74

32.5%

75+

9.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 45 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Clare County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Clare	3,324	$41,226	18.9%	$134,600
Harrison	2,110	$39,430	25.5%	$135,100
Farwell	974	$42,188	25.9%	$98,700

Explore Michigan Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Clare County is located in Michigan with a total population of 31,218. It is the 47th most populous county out of 83 in Michigan. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Clare County is 49.0 years. This is 22% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Clare County is $49,384. This is 32% lower than the state median of $72,875. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 21.6%. This is 64% higher than the state poverty rate of 13.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 9.5%. This is 66% higher than the state rate of 5.7%. The median home value is $133,800. Housing costs are 42% lower than the state median of $231,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.7x, Clare County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 19% higher than the state average of 73.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Clare County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 13.1%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.3%) is well below the state average of 5.9%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 3.4%.

Education

12.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 32.5%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Clare County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Michigan and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Clare County, Michigan?

Clare County has a population of 31,218, making it the 47th most populous county in Michigan.

What is the median income in Clare County?

The median household income in Clare County is $49,384 with a poverty rate of 21.6%.

How many cities are in Clare County, Michigan?

Clare County contains 3 Census-designated places.