Clare County
MI · Pop. 31,109 · Suburban County
Clare County is a suburban county in Michigan, spanning 564 square miles with 31,109 residents at a density of 55.2 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, corn, haylage. The median home price is $117,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.18%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 140-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.2°F and average winter lows of 14°F. Annual rainfall averages 32.8 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Midmichigan Medical Center - Clare is 12.3 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 73.2% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is high, wildfire risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A median home price of $117,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- A median household income of $49,805 anchors the local economy.
- Midmichigan Medical Center - Clare provides the area's nearest hospital care, 12.3 miles away.
Cons
- A 140-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Broadband reaches only 73.2% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- A poverty rate of 21.1% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- Average winter lows of 14°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Clare County, MI is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 55/100
- Median home price
- $117k
- Property tax
- 1.18%
- Growing season
- 140 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 32.8"
- Broadband
- 73.2%
- Nearest hospital
- Midmichigan Medical Center - Clare, 12.3 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Clare County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Clare County?
- Clare County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 140-day growing season, average summer highs of 80.2°F, and average winter lows of 14°F. The established crops are hay, corn, haylage.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $117,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.18%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 73.2% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Midmichigan Medical Center - Clare is 12.3 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
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More counties in Michigan
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The closest counties to Clare County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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