Township · Michigan
Bear Creek Township, Michigan
Bear Creek Township, township, in Emmet County, Michigan. Bear Creek Township had 6,513 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,542 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,544 (±38). GEOID 2604706380.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,513
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,542 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,544 ±38
Median household income
$71,090
±$13,375 (90% margin)
Michigan: $72,875
Median home value
$364,500
±$34,165 (90% margin)
Michigan: $231,600
Median gross rent
$1,453
±$191 (90% margin)
Michigan: $1,129
Where is Bear Creek Township and what county is it in?
Bear Creek Township is a township in Emmet County, Michigan. It covers 39.6 square miles of land, 165 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Bear Creek Township: Bay View (CDP, 183 in 2020). Part of Conway (CDP) also lies in it.
Bear Creek Township is in the Petoskey, MI micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bear Creek Township, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,513 people lived in Bear Creek Township on July 1, 2025, down 0.5% since 2020, while Michigan grew 0.5%. The 2020 Census counted 6,542 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,544 (±38).
| Measure | Bear Creek Township | Emmet County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,544±38 | 34,125 | +259 |
| Households | 3,028±247 | 15,190 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.16±0.17 | 2.22 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,437±297 | 21,979 | +797 |
Bear Creek Township's population since 2000
From 5,269 in 2000 to 6,513 in 2025: up 23.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bear Creek Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bear Creek Township?
The median resident of Bear Creek Township is 51.1 years old; 18.0% are under 18 and 31.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 95.6%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 4.0%. 0.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bear Creek Township | Emmet County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1±7.1 | 47.0 | +9.2 |
| Under 18 years | 18.0%±3.4 pts | 18.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 31.0%±5.3 pts | 25.0% | – |
| Male | 47.2%±3.1 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 2.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 95.6%±1.9 pts | 89.1% | +3.4 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.0%±1.8 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.8%±0.5 pts | 1.5% | −1.4 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.7%±1.6 pts | 3.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 7.8%±3.2 pts | 6.2% | – |
| With a disability | 17.2%±3.8 pts | 13.4% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.2%±1.9 pts | 6.4% | −3.1 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.7%±1.2 pts | 96.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 42.9%±6.8 pts | 41.6% | +8.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.9%±4.2 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 85.4%±5.3 pts | 88.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1%±0.8 pts | 1.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bear Creek Township earn?
Half of Bear Creek Township's 3,028 households earn less than $71,090 a year (±$13,375), against $78,112 in Emmet County and $72,875 in Michigan. In 2015-2019 it was $68,615 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.9% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bear Creek Township | Emmet County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,090±$13,375 | $78,112 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $100,793±$11,469 | $109,768 | – |
| Per capita income | $45,270±$4,989 | $48,447 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.9%±4.7 pts | 8.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 13.7%±12.2 pts | 9.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.0%±2.5 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.9%±4.5 pts | 95.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.3%±4.4 pts | 91.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bear Creek Township?
Owners occupy 64.0% of Bear Creek Township's occupied homes and renters 36.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $364,500 by its owner (±$34,165). The median renter pays $1,453 a month including utilities, and 39.0% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bear Creek Township | Emmet County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $364,500±$34,165 | $315,700 | +$104,085 |
| Median gross rent | $1,453±$191 | $1,112 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 39.0%±13.5 pts | 35.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,778±$410 | $1,604 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 64.0%±5.9 pts | 77.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.0%±5.9 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Housing units | 4,437±297 | 21,979 | +797 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.7%±6.9 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 61.6%±5.2 pts | 73.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.4%±2.1 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5%±0.6 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 4.0%±2.2 pts | 5.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 19.2%±4.2 pts | 15.0% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.6%±4.9 pts | 5.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bear Creek Township building?
Builders took permits for 31 new housing units in Bear Creek Township in 2025 (31 in single-family houses), 4.8 per 1,000 residents against 2.3 across Michigan.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bear Creek Township work and get to work?
75.4% of Bear Creek Township's workers drive alone and 7.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.5 minutes.
| Measure | Bear Creek Township | Emmet County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 55.5%±6.3 pts | 60.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.4%±1.9 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 75.4%±7.2 pts | 74.7% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.1%±4.5 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 5.6%±5.1 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.8%±2.9 pts | 10.7% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.5 min±4.7 | 19.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bear Creek Township?
1 census tract lies mostly in Bear Creek Township, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9706Emmet County | 6,453 | $90,391 |
| Tract 9707Emmet County | 3,686 | $86,806 |
| Tract 9708Emmet County | 4,281 | $63,767 |
| Tract 9705Emmet County | 4,899 | $87,471 |
| Tract 9704Emmet County | 2,852 | $88,068 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bear Creek Township) · Census block assignment files
How does Bear Creek Township compare with other places in Michigan?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bear Creek Township is the 1,835th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 162nd-most populous of 1,240 in Michigan.
Bear Creek Township ranks 692nd of 1,354 places in Michigan with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 162nd | 1,240 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 855th | 1,281 |
| Residents per square mile | 638th | 1,356 |
| Median household income | 692nd | 1,354 |
| Per capita income | 302nd | 1,355 |
| Median home value | 122nd | 1,354 |
| Median gross rent | 104th | 1,212 |
| Poverty rate | 660th | 1,213 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 168th | 1,350 |
| Median age | 201st | 1,356 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,210th | 1,356 |
| Work from home | 778th | 1,062 |
| Travel time to work | 1,159th | 1,356 |
Bear Creek Township's figures with every place in Michigan (CSV)
Every place in Michigan, sortable · Compare Bear Creek Township with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bear Creek Township?
15 of the 57 figures for Bear Creek Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bear Creek Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.