The Town FilesHarbor Springs, Michigan
City in Emmet County · population 1,274 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $415,700
- Household income
- $75,417
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 124 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 62.0
Harbor Springs is a city of 1,274 people in Emmet County, Michigan. The median home is worth $415,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Harbor Springs 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 Springs is worth $415,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.5 times the median household income of $75,417, which is more affordable than 1% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,027 a month. 68.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harbor Springs | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $415,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,027 | $955 |
| Median household income | $75,417 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.0% | — |
Who lives in Harbor Springs
| People | Harbor Springs | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 43.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 7.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Harbor Springs
July highs average 75.2°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 123.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harbor Springs since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 4, 1957 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Emmet County since 1996
Emmet 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 Emmet County
Emmet County had 17,742 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,435 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Harbor Springs itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Harbor Springs
3 public schools with 706 students, about 13.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harbor Springs Middle School | 3-8 | 312 | 14.2 |
| Harbor Springs High School | 9-12 | 231 | 12.8 |
| Blackbird Elementary School | PK-2 | 163 | 12.5 |
Towns near Harbor Springs
- West Traverse, MI2.8 mi · 1,768 people · home $399,600
- Little Traverse, MI3.9 mi · 2,657 people · home $345,400
- Petoskey, MI4.8 mi · 5,877 people · home $364,100
- Friendship, MI6.1 mi · 954 people · home $354,000
- Pleasantview, MI6.4 mi · 918 people · home $356,800
- Bear Creek, MI6.9 mi · 6,542 people · home $364,500
- Resort, MI7.2 mi · 2,835 people · home $394,500
- Bay Shore, MI7.7 mi · 687 people · home $153,600
Harbor Springs questions
Is Harbor Springs, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harbor Springs scores better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns and quieter than 77%. 43.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.0).
How much does a house cost in Harbor Springs?
The median owner-occupied home in Harbor Springs is valued at $415,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,417, so homes cost about 5.5 times income. Median rent is $1,027 a month.
What is the weather like in Harbor Springs?
July highs average 75.2°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 123.6 inches of snow.
Does Harbor Springs get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harbor Springs since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 4, 1957. 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)