The Town FilesFreeman, Michigan
Township in Clare County · population 1,125 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,600
- Household income
- $54,063
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 82°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 54.0
Freeman is a township of 1,125 people in Clare County, Michigan. The median home is worth $150,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 89% of Michigan towns, better transit than 89% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Freeman 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 Freeman is worth $150,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $54,063, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $827 a month. 95.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Freeman | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $827 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,063 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 45.5% | — |
Who lives in Freeman
| People | Freeman | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 36.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Freeman
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Freeman since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 27, 1991 about 6.8 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 6 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 Freeman itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near Freeman
- Sylvan, MI5.2 mi · 967 people · home $119,000
- Lincoln, MI6.6 mi · 1,805 people · home $143,600
- Garfield, MI6.6 mi · 1,807 people · home $171,500
- Middle Branch, MI7.5 mi · 775 people · home $139,100
- Orient, MI7.6 mi · 733 people · home $173,400
- Greenwood, MI8.1 mi · 1,108 people · home $181,700
- Surrey, MI9.3 mi · 3,635 people · home $121,300
- Osceola, MI11.0 mi · 943 people · home $154,000
Freeman questions
Is Freeman, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Freeman scores better for retirees than 38% of Michigan towns and quieter than 89%. 28.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.0).
How much does a house cost in Freeman?
The median owner-occupied home in Freeman is valued at $150,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,063, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $827 a month.
What is the weather like in Freeman?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Freeman get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Freeman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 27, 1991. 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)