The Town FilesFarwell, Michigan
Village in Clare County · population 880 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,700
- Household income
- $42,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 43.1
Farwell is a village of 880 people in Clare County, Michigan. The median home is worth $98,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900).
How Farwell 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 Farwell is worth $98,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $42,188, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $513 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Farwell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $513 | $955 |
| Median household income | $42,188 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.4% | — |
Who lives in Farwell
| People | Farwell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 4.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Farwell
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farwell since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 7, 1965 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Clare County since 1996
Clare County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| September 18, 1986 | Flood | DR-774: Severe Storms & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Clare County
Clare County had 7,261 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,949 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Farwell itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Farwell
4 public schools with 1,011 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farwell High School | 8-12 | 339 | 18.8 |
| Farwell Elementary School | PK-3 | 314 | 15.0 |
| Farwell Middle School | 4-7 | 306 | 18.0 |
| Farwell Timberland Alternative High School | 8-12 | 52 | 26.0 |
Towns near Farwell
- Surrey, MI2.6 mi · 3,635 people · home $121,300
- Grant, MI4.1 mi · 3,360 people · home $155,700
- Gilmore, MI5.1 mi · 1,314 people · home $157,300
- Clare, MI5.3 mi · 3,254 people · home $134,600
- Vernon, MI6.3 mi · 1,300 people · home $204,200
- Lincoln, MI7.5 mi · 1,805 people · home $143,600
- Hatton, MI7.8 mi · 893 people · home $147,800
- Coldwater, MI8.7 mi · 801 people · home $158,300
Farwell questions
Is Farwell, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Farwell scores better for retirees than 27% of Michigan towns and quieter than 53%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Farwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Farwell is valued at $98,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,188, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $513 a month.
What is the weather like in Farwell?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.5 inches of snow.
Does Farwell get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Farwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 7, 1965. 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)