The Town FilesBarnes Lake, Michigan
Community in Lapeer County · population 768 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,900
- Household income
- $79,400
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 20.0
Barnes Lake is a community of 768 people in Lapeer County, Michigan. The median home is worth $225,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 96% of Michigan towns, better for families than 93% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Barnes Lake 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 Barnes Lake is worth $225,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $79,400, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. 64.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnes Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $79,400 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 31.2% | — |
Who lives in Barnes Lake
| People | Barnes Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 20.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 5.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 43.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 49.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 100.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Barnes Lake
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnes Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1953 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 17, 2024.
Severe weather in Lapeer County since 1996
Lapeer County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, 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 |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Lapeer County
Lapeer County had 21,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,778 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Barnes Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Barnes Lake
- Deerfield, MI0.9 mi · 5,764 people · home $184,600
- Marathon, MI4.8 mi · 4,467 people · home $186,300
- Mayfield, MI5.4 mi · 7,988 people · home $188,100
- Columbiaville, MI5.5 mi · 702 people · home $142,600
- Fostoria, MI5.7 mi · 664 people · home $123,300
- North Branch, MI6.3 mi · 3,571 people · home $227,900
- North Branch, MI6.4 mi · 1,096 people · home $152,000
- Rich, MI6.6 mi · 1,500 people · home $279,200
Barnes Lake questions
Is Barnes Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnes Lake scores better for retirees than 14% of Michigan towns and quieter than 51%. 5.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 20.0).
How much does a house cost in Barnes Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnes Lake is valued at $225,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,400, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Barnes Lake?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 34.4 inches of snow.
Does Barnes Lake get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnes Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1953. 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)