The Town FilesBear Lake, Michigan
Township in Manistee County · population 1,831 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $224,700
- Household income
- $72,958
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 99 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 50.0
Bear Lake is a township of 1,831 people in Manistee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $224,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Michigan towns, quieter than 94% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Bear 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 Bear Lake is worth $224,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $72,958, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,100 a month. 92.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bear Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $224,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,100 | $955 |
| Median household income | $72,958 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.8% | — |
Who lives in Bear Lake
| People | Bear Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bear Lake
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 98.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bear Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 3.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 1956.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 27, 2024.
Severe weather in Manistee County since 1996
Manistee County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Manistee County
Manistee County had 7,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,233 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Bear Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near Bear Lake
- Onekama, MI4.7 mi · 1,338 people · home $282,200
- Brown, MI5.1 mi · 704 people · home $238,700
- Kaleva, MI5.8 mi · 507 people · home $94,200
- Pleasanton, MI6.0 mi · 870 people · home $232,900
- Maple Grove, MI7.3 mi · 1,342 people · home $116,800
- Arcadia, MI7.4 mi · 657 people · home $239,600
- Manistee, MI8.8 mi · 4,022 people · home $193,900
- Springdale, MI9.6 mi · 849 people · home $171,600
Bear Lake questions
Is Bear Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bear Lake scores better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns and quieter than 94%. 28.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.0).
How much does a house cost in Bear Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Bear Lake is valued at $224,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,958, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,100 a month.
What is the weather like in Bear Lake?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 98.8 inches of snow.
Does Bear Lake get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bear Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. 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)