1st Advantage MortgageThe median Clare County household earns $49,384, and 22% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Michigan before sharing details.
On this page
- Population and place: Clare County
- Homes and rents, Clare County
- What Clare County households earn
- How Clare County ranks in Michigan
- Where Clare County works
- The communities that make up Clare County
- How Clare County compares with nearby counties
- Clare County demographics against Michigan
- Borrowing situations common in Clare County
- Budget math at the Clare County median
- Before you sign
- Verifying a lender from Clare County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Clare County
Clare County is home to about 31,218 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 47th most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. Density: about 55.3 residents per square mile across 564 square miles of land. Clare County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Largest place: Clare, about 3,324 residents (11% of Clare County); 3 Census places in all.
Homes and rents, Clare County
$765 a month is the median gross rent in Clare County, 32% below the state. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $133,800, about 2.7 times the median household income. Homeowners 87%, renters 13%. Half the housing stock was built before 1976. Against the median U.S. county, Clare County rent is 13% below.
| Home costs | Clare County | Michigan | Compared with Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 87% | 73% | +13.7 pts |
| Mobile homes | 16.2% | 5.0% | +11.2 pts |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 23% | +9.1 pts |
| Median home value | $133,800 | $231,600 | 42% lower |
| Median gross rent | $765/mo | $1,129/mo | 32% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 50% | -1.0 pts |
Clare County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
What Clare County households earn
Median household income in Clare County: $49,384 (32% below Michigan, $72,875). Only 82 Michigan counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Clare County | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.0% | +11.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.4% | -9.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -6.7 pts |
Six-figure households (19%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (35%) in Clare County. Clare County counts about 6,756 residents below the poverty line, 21.6% of the population. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How Clare County ranks in Michigan
The 3 Clare County numbers that rank furthest from typical in Michigan, and what each means for a borrower:
- Few Michigan counties match Clare County on median household income: $49,384 here, $72,875 for the state, ranking the lowest of 83. Where incomes run low, free assistance and credit-union small-dollar loans deserve a look first.
- Few Michigan counties match Clare County on the ACS unemployment rate: 9.5% here, 5.7% for the state, ranking 2nd highest of 83. Job gaps can make income hard to document; gather records first.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 13% in Clare County. Only 1 of 83 Michigan counties are lower. No degree is required for a personal loan; documented income is.
Where Clare County works
Top Clare County industry by residents employed: education and health care, 22%; second, manufacturing, 15%. Compared with Michigan, the county leans toward construction (9% against 6%). Unemployment in Clare County, ACS five-year: 9.5%; Michigan: 5.7%. 29% of Clare County workers get to work in under 15 minutes, while 18% need 45 or more. No car: 7.8% of Clare County households.
| Where residents work | Clare County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.7% | -1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.6% | -3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.4% | +2.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.8% | +3.4 pts |
| Construction | 9.3% | +3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.4% | -3.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Clare County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
The communities that make up Clare County
6,408 of Clare County's 31,218 residents live in its 3 Census places (21%); the 3 largest are listed. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $39,430 in Harrison to $42,188 in Farwell. Rent is cheapest in Farwell ($513) and steepest in Clare ($822). None of the 3 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clare | city | 3,324 | $41,226 | $822 | 12 mi |
| Harrison | city | 2,110 | $39,430 | $620 | 2 mi |
| Farwell | village | 974 | $42,188 | $513 | 11 mi |
How Clare County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Gladwin County at 22 miles out to Midland County at 33. Clare County's $49,384 median trails 6 of the six and beats 0; the range runs $55,237 (Isabella County) to $77,705 (Midland County).
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clare County | - | $49,384 | $765/mo | 87% |
| Gladwin County, MI | 22 mi | $55,349 | $690/mo | 86% |
| Isabella County, MI | 24 mi | $55,237 | $913/mo | 62% |
| Osceola County, MI | 24 mi | $58,267 | $807/mo | 84% |
| Missaukee County, MI | 26 mi | $66,194 | $891/mo | 85% |
| Roscommon County, MI | 27 mi | $55,246 | $816/mo | 85% |
| Midland County, MI | 33 mi | $77,705 | $1,016/mo | 78% |
Clare County demographics against Michigan
In Clare County, 13% of adults have at least a four-year degree (32% in Michigan). Health coverage gaps: 10.2% of Clare County residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Clare County | Gap to Michigan | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 12.9% | -19.6 pts | -9.3 pts |
| Median age | 49.0 | +8.8 yrs | +7.5 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 21.6% | +8.4 pts | +8.5 pts |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | +5.3 pts | +2.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.5% | +3.8 pts | +5.1 pts |
| No high school diploma | 11.3% | +3.4 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 10.9% | -2.5 pts | +2.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 7.8% | +0.8 pts | +2.4 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Clare County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.0% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Clare County
Clare County-specific points to check:
- Uninsured care. 10% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Vehicle repairs. 18% of Clare County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Clare County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirement budgets. In a county with a 49.0 median age, keep any loan term shorter than your plans for the money.
Budget math at the Clare County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Clare County's medians:
- $4,115 a month: gross income for a household at the Clare County median
- Rent at the median, $765, takes 19% of that
- $675: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,087 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $765, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Clare County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Clare County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Michigan.
- Ask a Clare County credit union about member loans.
Verifying a lender from Clare County
Consumer lenders serving Clare County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Michigan that is the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Michigan guide.
Keep exploring
No city in Clare County has its own guide yet; the state page is next up.
Frequently asked questions
Is Clare County a high-income county?
Its $49,384 median ranks 83rd of 83 Michigan counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Clare County rent compare with Michigan?
$765 locally versus $1,129 for the state, 32% below.
How many towns are in Clare County?
The Census Bureau counts 3 places mainly in the county, led by Clare, Harrison, Farwell.
Is the fit check different in Clare County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Clare County residents?
The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services licenses consumer lenders in Michigan; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.