The Town FilesGarfield, Michigan
Township in Bay County · population 1,693 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,700
- Household income
- $96,571
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 44.7
Garfield is a township of 1,693 people in Bay County, Michigan. The median home is worth $167,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 91% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 82% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Garfield 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 Garfield is worth $167,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $96,571, which is more affordable than 98% of Michigan towns. 99.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $96,571 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 99.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Garfield
| People | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Garfield
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 31, 1999 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Bay County since 1996
Bay County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4326: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Bay County
Bay County had 34,112 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,617 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Garfield itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Towns near Garfield
- Fraser, MI5.9 mi · 2,994 people · home $163,100
- Mount Forest, MI6.0 mi · 1,399 people · home $187,500
- Beaver, MI6.1 mi · 2,723 people · home $193,800
- Mills, MI6.8 mi · 1,775 people · home $179,500
- Larkin, MI7.5 mi · 5,331 people · home $382,500
- Kawkawlin, MI8.0 mi · 4,419 people · home $188,800
- Pinconning, MI8.6 mi · 1,204 people · home $79,600
- Pinconning, MI9.1 mi · 2,299 people · home $137,100
Garfield questions
Is Garfield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garfield scores better for retirees than 36% of Michigan towns and quieter than 70%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Garfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Garfield is valued at $167,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,571, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Garfield?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 48.8 inches of snow.
Does Garfield get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 31, 1999. 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)