Bear Lake, Michigan
Among the top 12% of US places for lifestyle & connectivity.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 60% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade F, better than 8% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade D, better than 19% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade F, better than 7% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade A, better than 88% of US places
- top 14% for sales tax
- top 15% for natural disaster risk
- bottom 1% for annual snowfall
Limited data for Bear Lake — the figures below are what we have. See Kalkaska County for a fuller picture.
Bear Lake is a small community in Michigan with about 301 residents. It grades A for lifestyle & connectivity and F for getting around. Standout strengths include sales tax, natural disaster risk, and summer humidity. It rates lower on violent crime and annual snowfall.
- The median home value in Bear Lake is $121k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Bear Lake is $54k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Bear Lake has a violent crime rate of 2412/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- July temperatures in Bear Lake average around 67°F, per the NOAA nClimGrid.
Climate
Warm summers · Harsh winters · Moderate rain · Heavy snow
freezing
v.cold
cold
comfortable
warm
comf.
cool
v.cold
freez.
66%24%clearovercast
Precipitation 3.5 in2.2 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$54k36th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$44kbetter than 66% of US places
Home Value$121k34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Owner Costs$151better than 62% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.23%better than 37% of US places
Income Tax4.30%better than 69% of US places
Sales Tax6.00%better than 86% of US places
Estimated total tax burden9.03%better than 62% of US places
Unemployment12.0%better than 10% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)18°F9th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)67°F5th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation36.5 in34th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall126.3 inbetter than 1% of US places
Sunny Days205 daysbetter than 23% of US places
Summer Humidity58°Fbetter than 80% of US places
Comfortable Days75 daysbetter than 31% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk36.5better than 85% of US places
Air Quality53 AQIbetter than 9% of US places
School Quality53.4better than 42% of US places
Violent Crime2412/100kbetter than 5% of US places
Property Crime1226/100kbetter than 40% of US places
Community
Population30127th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age65.297th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1643rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.8420th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningR+4269th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)91.4%66th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)0.0%22nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)2.3%42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.0%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)6.3%78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Walkability4.9/20better than 12% of US places
Airport Distance130 mibetter than 24% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access93.3%better than 77% of US places
Amenities Nearby132.89better than 61% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 79% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bear Lake an affordable place to live?
- Bear Lake is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $44k, better than 66% of comparable areas. Median rent is not available.
- Is Bear Lake safe?
- Bear Lake is higher-crime than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 2412/100k (better than 5%). Property crime is 1226/100k.
- What is the weather like in Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake averages 67°F in July and 18°F in January, with 36.5 in of annual precipitation and about 205 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Bear Lake?
- Public-school quality in Bear Lake is about average, scoring better than 42% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.