The Town FilesHarbor Beach, Michigan
City in Huron County · population 1,604 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $116,600
- Household income
- $40,809
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 46.1
Harbor Beach is a city of 1,604 people in Huron County, Michigan. The median home is worth $116,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 95% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 93% of Michigan towns, hipper than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Harbor Beach 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 Harbor Beach is worth $116,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $40,809, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $554 a month. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harbor Beach | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $116,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $554 | $955 |
| Median household income | $40,809 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.8% | — |
Who lives in Harbor Beach
| People | Harbor Beach | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 14.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Harbor Beach
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harbor Beach since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 19, 2007 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 19, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 17, 2026.
Severe weather in Huron County since 1996
Huron County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Huron County
Huron County had 11,234 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,295 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Harbor Beach itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Harbor Beach
4 public schools with 502 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbor Beach Community High School | 9-12 | 203 | 22.6 |
| Harbor Beach Elementary School | K-5 | 174 | 11.6 |
| Harbor Beach Middle School | 6-8 | 100 | 25.0 |
| Eccles School | K-8 | 25 | 12.5 |
Towns near Harbor Beach
- Sand Beach, MI2.3 mi · 1,155 people · home $205,500
- Rubicon, MI5.3 mi · 705 people · home $113,200
- Sherman, MI8.0 mi · 999 people · home $180,100
- Delaware, MI13.9 mi · 784 people · home $219,400
- Verona, MI14.1 mi · 1,210 people · home $223,600
- Lincoln, MI14.7 mi · 727 people · home $170,200
- Bingham, MI16.3 mi · 1,642 people · home $157,100
- Minden, MI16.4 mi · 558 people · home $162,500
Harbor Beach questions
Is Harbor Beach, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harbor Beach scores better for retirees than 55% of Michigan towns and quieter than 62%. 32.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.1).
How much does a house cost in Harbor Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Harbor Beach is valued at $116,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,809, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $554 a month.
What is the weather like in Harbor Beach?
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 47.2 inches of snow.
Does Harbor Beach get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harbor Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 19, 2007. 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)