The Town FilesClam Lake, Michigan
Township in Wexford County · population 2,325 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $220,300
- Household income
- $86,429
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.8
Clam Lake is a township of 2,325 people in Wexford County, Michigan. The median home is worth $220,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 73% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Clam 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 Clam Lake is worth $220,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $86,429, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,121 a month. 88.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clam Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,121 | $955 |
| Median household income | $86,429 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in Clam Lake
| People | Clam Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Clam Lake
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clam Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1974 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Wexford County since 1996
Wexford County has been included in 7 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 Wexford County
Wexford County had 13,163 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,377 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Clam Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Clam Lake
- Cadillac, MI3.7 mi · 10,371 people · home $134,300
- Richland, MI5.6 mi · 1,489 people · home $197,300
- Sherman, MI5.6 mi · 991 people · home $225,400
- Haring, MI6.9 mi · 3,556 people · home $192,500
- Cherry Grove, MI7.1 mi · 2,421 people · home $271,300
- Burdell, MI8.2 mi · 1,410 people · home $187,500
- Lake, MI8.4 mi · 2,827 people · home $230,300
- McBain, MI8.4 mi · 637 people · home $141,700
Clam Lake questions
Is Clam Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clam Lake scores better for retirees than 72% of Michigan towns and quieter than 43%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.8).
How much does a house cost in Clam Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Clam Lake is valued at $220,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,429, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,121 a month.
What is the weather like in Clam Lake?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 74.0 inches of snow.
Does Clam Lake get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clam Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1974. 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)