City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Bear Lake, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bear Lake - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

245
Residents
$53,750
Median income
$143,100
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Bear Lake - the verdict

Bear Lake ranks in the 25th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

25th
percentile, household income
25th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bear Lake, MI

Michigan's Bear Lake is a small town, with 245 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $53,750 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.3%. Home values in Bear Lake run a median of $143,100, and the median resident age is 70.1 years. 25.2% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 25.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Michigan scores 96.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $973 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 21.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

245 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$53,750 /yr

Poverty 3.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Bear Lake compare to other US cities?

Here's how Bear Lake stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 25% higher than other cities
Home value 25% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bear Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Bear Lake near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Bear Lake ranks #576 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bear Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#463 of 718
35th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#576 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#382 of 721
47th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#560 of 727
22nd percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#263 of 727
64th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

25thIncome percentile

25th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bear Lake's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$143,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 75% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bear Lake $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bear Lake, MI Bear Lake, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bear Lake, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bear Lake, MI median $53,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bear Lake, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bear Lake, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 25.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
245
Median Income
$53,750
Median Home Value
$143,100
Median Age
70.1
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Labor force participation
25.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.2%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
98.2%
Carpool
1.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 57 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bear Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
21.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Omer
247 people
Lincoln
250 people
Omena
240 people
Rockland
250 people
Applegate
251 people
Grand Marais
255 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bear Lake's 245 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Pineville, AR
245 people
Scranton, AR
245 people
Franklin CDP (Sacramento County), CA
245 people
Henning, IL
245 people
Kinderhook, IL
245 people
McClure, IL
245 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bear Lake's $53,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ehrenberg, AZ
$53,750 median income
Le Grand, CA
$53,750 median income
Ellaville, GA
$53,750 median income
Clay City, IL
$53,750 median income
Cypress, IL
$53,750 median income
Loami, IL
$53,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bear Lake, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bear Lake, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.6% White 93.1% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 2.5% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.6% Two or more races 2.9% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bear Lake compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bear Lake (this city) 245 $53,750
Omer 247 $48,750
Lincoln 250 $31,771
Omena 240 $113,611
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bear Lake, MI?

What is the population of Bear Lake, MI? +

245 people live in Bear Lake, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bear Lake, MI? +

Median annual household income in Bear Lake runs $53,750, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bear Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bear Lake; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Bear Lake, MI? +

A typical home in Bear Lake is worth $143,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.