The Town FilesHayes, Michigan
Township in Clare County · population 4,642 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,700
- Household income
- $40,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 52.0
Hayes is a township of 4,642 people in Clare County, Michigan. The median home is worth $93,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Michigan towns, better transit than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Hayes 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 Hayes is worth $93,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $40,250, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $611 a month. 94.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hayes | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $611 | $955 |
| Median household income | $40,250 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 40.9% | — |
Who lives in Hayes
| People | Hayes | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 5.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 38.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Hayes
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hayes since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 5, 2024 about 5.4 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 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 13, 2003.
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 Hayes itself the ACS puts it at 19%.
Towns near Hayes
- Roscommon, MI12.4 mi · 4,397 people · home $137,700
- Grant, MI12.9 mi · 3,360 people · home $155,700
- Surrey, MI14.8 mi · 3,635 people · home $121,300
- Gladwin, MI15.4 mi · 3,069 people · home $126,900
- Clare, MI15.5 mi · 3,254 people · home $134,600
- Denton, MI17.0 mi · 5,293 people · home $163,200
- Houghton Lake, MI17.4 mi · 5,294 people · home $126,200
- Richfield, MI26.0 mi · 3,545 people · home $110,200
Hayes questions
Is Hayes, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hayes scores better for retirees than 5% of Michigan towns and quieter than 59%. 26.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.0).
How much does a house cost in Hayes?
The median owner-occupied home in Hayes is valued at $93,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,250, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $611 a month.
What is the weather like in Hayes?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 62.1 inches of snow.
Does Hayes get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hayes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 5, 2024. 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)