Bear Creek is a township in Emmet County, Michigan, home to about 6,544 people across 40 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 49713 and 49770.
Homes sold for a median of $214 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.
Mostly Boyne Valley; part is in Bear Creek
Mostly Petoskey; part is in Bear Creek
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Bear Creek. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Bear Creek’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Bear Creek well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)173 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport (PLN)16 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Milwaukee, WI218 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL279 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Bear Creek; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Bear Creek had 6,542 residents in the 2020 census, up 24% since 2000.
It’s the 289th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.
Emmet County grew from 15,931 residents in 1900 to 34,112 in 2020.
Emmet County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 76°F in summer, and winter lows average 12°F. About 36.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 120 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Petoskey Ncmc, MI weather station (2 miles away).
16,212 jobs at 1,577 businesses in Emmet County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
607 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Bear Creek’s ZIP codes.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 48 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 155 |
| Dentists | 35 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 114 |
| Mental health providers | 174 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 56 |
| Optometrists | 10 |
| Chiropractors | 15 |
| Pharmacies | 11 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Parks (24 nearby)
Grocery stores (8 nearby)
Pharmacies (2 nearby)
Libraries (3 nearby)
Museums (3 nearby)
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 4 miles of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Boyne Falls Public School District, Public Schools of Petoskey, Concord Academy - Petoskey and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyne Falls Public SchoolBoyne Falls | Pre-K–12 | 196 | Public | 11.5 mi |
| Ottawa Elementary SchoolPetoskey | Pre-K–5 | 250 | Public | 2.1 mi |
| Central Elementary SchoolPetoskey | K–5 | 234 | Public | 2.6 mi |
| Concord Academy PetoskeyPetoskey | K–12 | 101 | Charter | 1.0 mi |
| Lincoln SchoolPetoskey | K–5 | 237 | Public | 3.2 mi |
| Sheridan SchoolPetoskey | K–5 | 252 | Public | 2.4 mi |
| Petoskey Middle SchoolPetoskey | 6–8 | 561 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| CharEm Alternative SchoolsPetoskey | 9–12 | 22 | Alternative Education | 2.8 mi |
| Petoskey High SchoolPetoskey | 9–12 | 862 | Public | 2.0 mi |
| School | Grades | Students | Affiliation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Francis Xavier SchoolPetoskey | Pre-K–8 | 226 | Roman Catholic | 2.7 mi |
| St Michael AcademyPetoskey | 9–12 | 31 | Roman Catholic | 4.0 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools; Private School Universe Survey (2023-2024) for private schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Petoskey, Resort, Springvale, Boyne Valley, Melrose, Chandler Township (Charlevoix County) and Hudson Township (Charlevoix County).
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.