The Town FilesBark River, Michigan
Township in Delta County · population 1,595 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $178,100
- Household income
- $69,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 45.1
Bark River is a township of 1,595 people in Delta County, Michigan. The median home is worth $178,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 88% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 88% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Bark River ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bark River is worth $178,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $69,375, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $608 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bark River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $178,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $608 | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,375 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.1% | — |
Who lives in Bark River
| People | Bark River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bark River
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bark River since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1987 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 31, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 25, 2008.
Severe weather in Delta County since 1996
Delta County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 10, 1994 | Freezing | DR-1028: Severe Deep Freeze |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Delta County
Delta County had 13,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,978 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Bark River itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Bark River
1 public school with 184 students, about 8.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy (charter) | K-12 | 184 | 8.8 |
Towns near Bark River
- Ford River, MI5.3 mi · 2,019 people · home $170,700
- Wells, MI7.7 mi · 4,876 people · home $177,000
- Harris, MI8.1 mi · 2,113 people · home $168,800
- Escanaba, MI10.4 mi · 12,450 people · home $125,200
- Escanaba, MI11.6 mi · 3,496 people · home $173,800
- Cornell, MI14.4 mi · 565 people · home $170,800
- Spalding, MI14.5 mi · 1,599 people · home $187,700
- Hermansville, MI15.1 mi · 509 people · home $82,700
Bark River questions
Is Bark River, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bark River scores better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns and quieter than 88%. 22.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.1).
How much does a house cost in Bark River?
The median owner-occupied home in Bark River is valued at $178,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,375, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $608 a month.
What is the weather like in Bark River?
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 52.1 inches of snow.
Does Bark River get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bark River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1987. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)