2005 · MIMap-doton-BearLake · Wikimedia Commons
Bear Lake’s story
163 years in pictures
1 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1863Bear Lake is settled
- 2005MIMap-doton-BearLake
Bear LakeMI
A town of 264, settled in 1863. Healthier than 63% of U.S. towns.
Population
264
residents
Median home value
$155K
Census ACS
Household income
$63K
median
Median age
38.6
years
Jobs based here
55
A commuter town
What makes Bear Lake stand out
The thing Bear Lake does most differently from other towns.
Small town
264 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Bear Lake’s report card
Now in Bear Lake
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Live in Bear Lake? Is a C+ for health right?
Your answer becomes a post in Bear Lake’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
Weather
Forecast →63°
Light Rain and Fog/Mist
H 0° · L 59°
Local news
All →- Bear Lake vs Walkerville - Boys Varsity Basketball 12/11/2026 | Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 29
- Bear Lake vs Crossroads - Girls Varsity Volleyball 10/08/2026 | Watch Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 28
- Manistee vs Frankfort - Boys Varsity Baseball 04/15/2027 | Live & On DemandNFHS Network · Sep 27
Upcoming events
Nothing on the calendar.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Bear Lake. Another town gets a different order.
Natural hazards
Very low risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 7% of U.S. communities.
7risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesLightning
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Bear Lake
Most working residents leave Bear Lake for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Manistee (10%), Frankfort (7%) and Traverse City (7%). Half commute less than 14 miles.
2%work in town
Where working residents work
In Bear Lake2%
Manistee10%
Frankfort7%
Traverse City7%
Arcadia7%
14 mi
median commute distance
55
jobs based in Bear Lake
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACSCommute map →
Climate
Snowy winters, pleasant summers
Bear Lake has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 79°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 92 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
92″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter17–30°
Spring32–53°
Summer56–77°
Fall40–57°
Oct 20
typical first frost
May 7
typical last frost
+2.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Health
Healthier than 37% of U.S. towns
Bear Lake beats the Michigan average on 3 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0.
C+Health Grade
32 measures vs. Michigan
3 better29 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Bear Lake | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 12.1% | 15.4% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 6.9% | 8.7% |
Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital
12 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
47th
percentile among MI towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Outdoors
0.9% of Bear Lake is conserved land
0.2 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves.
0.9%conserved
0.9%
conserved · 2 of 199 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hopkins Park | — | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-USParks & trails →
Housing
Homes in Bear Lake sell for about $131K
The median sale price was $131,000 in May 2026.
$131Kmedian sale price
2
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Bear Lake for work
Where Bear Lake’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
55jobs based in Bear Lake
2%of working residents work in town
14 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About Bear Lake
Village in Michigan, United States
Bear Lake is a village in Manistee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 342 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Bear Lake Township.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1863
- Population
- 342
- Area
- 0.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 791 ft
- ZIP code
- 49614
More about Bear Lake
Still missing for Bear Lake:a photo of Bear Lakeupcoming events