Clare is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located near the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, the city is located mostly in Clare County, while a small portion extends south into Isabella County. The city had a population of 3,254 at the 2020 census. Clare was settled as early as 1870 and contains two listings on the National Register of Historic Places: the Clare Downtown Historic District and the Clare Congregational Church. The city is located along the junction of U.S. Route 10 and U.S. Route 127, and each highway has a business route (Bus. 10 and Bus. US 127) through the downtown area. M-115 also runs through the city. The convergence of these highways as well as the historic j…

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How Clare ranks

All →

#73Most affordable in MI #110Cheapest rent in MI #217Most walkable in MI All MI rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code48617

Area code989

Living in Clare

Housing in Clare

$228K▲ 11.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Clare home is worth about $228,000, up 11.6% in a year, 14% below the Michigan typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Clare

Safety Grade B

Clare reports less crime per resident than 58% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Clare 1.5

Michigan 4.3

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Clare 10.9

Michigan 13

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Clare

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Clare for work: only 17% work in town. The top destinations are Mount Pleasant (10%), Grant (7%) and Midland (6%). Half commute less than 16 miles.

Mount Pleasant

10%

Grant

Midland

Chippewa

17%Work in townlive and work in Clare 16 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,931Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2021 · ACSWork & commute in Clare →

Health in Clare

Health Grade D

Healthier than 13% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 54% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Michigan

15worse than MI

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 6▼ 6 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 3▼ 1 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

15.1%More older adults who have lost all their teethMI 10.2% · worse 11.6%More adults with COPDMI 8.1% · worse 19.2%More smokersMI 14.6% · worse

Care nearby

Mclaren Central MichiganMount Pleasant · 15.7 mi · ER

Farwell Health CenterFarwell · 4.9 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Clare · CMS · HRSAHealth in Clare →

Natural hazards in Clare

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 14% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding💨 Strong wind🥶 Cold waves

0Does Clare flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Clare MapClare vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Clare →

Climate in Clare

Full climate →

Clare has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 82°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 49 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

32° / 17°Winter

56° / 33°Spring

80° / 56°Summer

59° / 39°Fall

How much snow does Clare get?About 49 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 4, with the last in spring around May 9.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Clare →

Schools in Clare

All Clare schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Clare’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 54% of Michigan’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

See how Clare’s schools compare in MI →

DistrictClare Public SchoolsSchools5

Clare Primary School CElementary · Grades PK–4 · 557 students Clare Middle School BMiddle · Grades 5–8 · 474 students Clare High School A-High · Grades 9–12 · 478 students Clare Pioneer High School CHigh · Grades 9–12 · 45 students Great Lakes Mennonite SchoolOther · Grades 1–9 · 37 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within MI. Ratings are from neighbors.