What are the schools like in Clare, MI?

Clare is served primarily by Clare Public Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.8:1.

What is the median household income in Clare?

The median household income in Clare, MI is $41,384 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.

What is the weather like in Clare, MI?

Clare has an average high temperature of 29.5°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 48.5 inches.

Clare, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Clare, MI affordable or expensive?

Clare's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clare is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $123,700 and the median rent is $797 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Clare, MI?

Clare has a violent crime rate of 152.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1126.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clare, MI a Good Place to Live?

Clare is a small town of 3,367 in Michigan, with a median household income of $41,384 and a 6.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Clare stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Clare is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clare city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 92.1

Clare's overall cost of living index is 92.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clare costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clare, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$123,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$797	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,384	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Clare's violent crime rate is 152.2 per 100,000 residents — 60% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

152.2 /100k

Property Crime

1126.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Clare is served primarily by Clare Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clare, MI	National Avg
School District	Clare Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clare sees average highs of 29.5°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 33.8 inches of annual precipitation and 48.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clare, MI
Average High — January	29.5°F
Average High — July	83.7°F
Annual Precipitation	33.8"
Annual Snowfall	48.5"

Demographics

Metric	Clare, MI	National Avg
Population	3,367	—
Median Age	43.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	22.0%	22.2%
65 and over	22.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Farwell, MI 5 mi Loomis, MI 6 mi Rosebush, MI 8 mi Coleman, MI 10 mi Harrison, MI 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Clare

Clare, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48617

Clare vs Other Cities

Clare, MI vs Farwell, MI Clare, MI vs Loomis, MI Clare, MI vs Rosebush, MI Clare, MI vs Coleman, MI Clare, MI vs Harrison, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clare, MI affordable or expensive?

Clare's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clare roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $123,700 and median rent is $797/month.

What is the crime rate in Clare, MI?

Clare's violent crime rate is 152.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1126.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clare?

Public schools in Clare are operated by Clare Public Schools. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. 21.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clare, MI a good place to live?

Clare, MI has a population of 3,367, a median household income of $41,384, and an unemployment rate of 6.7%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Clare?

Clare averages 29.5°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.8 inches with about 48.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clare?

Clare, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48617.

What is the population of Clare?

The population of Clare, Michigan is 3,367 with a median age of 43.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clare?

Key numbers for living in Clare: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $123,700, median household income $41,384, crime index 45 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clare side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.