The Town FilesGarfield, Michigan
Township in Kalkaska County · population 984 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $182,800
- Household income
- $70,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 126 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 37.7
Garfield is a township of 984 people in Kalkaska County, Michigan. The median home is worth $182,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Michigan towns, quieter than 92% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 77% 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 $182,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $70,417, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,219 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $182,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,219 | $955 |
| Median household income | $70,417 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.4% | — |
Who lives in Garfield
| People | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 29.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 40.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Garfield
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 36.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 126.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 188 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 23, 1976 about 7.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 23, 1976.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Kalkaska County since 1996
Kalkaska 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 |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Kalkaska County
Kalkaska County had 4,860 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,400 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Garfield itself the ACS puts it at 6.6%.
Towns near Garfield
- Norwich, MI6.2 mi · 631 people · home $170,100
- Orange, MI8.6 mi · 1,250 people · home $200,800
- Pioneer, MI8.8 mi · 508 people · home $133,300
- Bear Lake, MI10.6 mi · 668 people · home $188,700
- Excelsior, MI11.4 mi · 991 people · home $212,300
- Springfield, MI12.7 mi · 1,562 people · home $159,600
- Boardman, MI13.1 mi · 1,479 people · home $177,800
- Lyon, MI13.2 mi · 1,252 people · home $211,100
Garfield questions
Is Garfield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garfield scores better for retirees than 14% of Michigan towns and quieter than 92%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Garfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Garfield is valued at $182,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,417, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,219 a month.
What is the weather like in Garfield?
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation a year and 126.3 inches of snow.
Does Garfield get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 23, 1976. 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)