Town guide

Clare, Michigan

Clare is a city in Clare County, Michigan, home to about 3,204 people across 3.1 square miles. Its ZIP code is 48617.

Homes sold for a median of $148 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a seller’s market.

Population3,2041,020 per sq mi
Median home value$136,100Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$148Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking17%Latest 3 months

ZIP codes in Clare

1 ZIP code

Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Clare. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology

The Clare guide is on the way

We’re writing up Clare’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.

  • History
  • What it’s like to live there
  • Getting around
  • Things to do

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Around Clare

Distances

Nearest major airportGerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)75 miles away
Closer regional airportMBS International Airport (MBS)39 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Detroit, MI130 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL202 miles away

Straight-line distances from the center of Clare; driving is longer.

Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Who represents Clare

Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.

Population over time

Clare had 3,176 residents in the 2020 census, up 1% since 2000.

It’s the 548th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.

Clare County grew from 8,360 residents in 1900 to 30,856 in 2020.

Clare population by census2000: 3,140, 2010: 3,071, 2020: 3,1763,14020003,07120103,1762020

Clare County, 1900–2020

Clare County population, 1900 to 20201900: 8,360, 1910: 9,240, 1920: 8,250, 1930: 7,032, 1940: 9,163, 1950: 10,253, 1960: 11,647, 1970: 16,695, 1980: 23,822, 1990: 24,952, 2000: 31,252, 2010: 30,926, 2020: 30,8568K’00’108K’20’309K’40’5012K’60’7024K’80’9031K’00’1031K’20

Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).

Weather by month

Average highs peak around 84°F in summer, and winter lows average 16°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.

Average high and low temperature and precipitation by month near ClareJan: high 30°F, low 16°F, 2.1 in; Feb: high 32°F, low 17°F, 1.7 in; Mar: high 43°F, low 24°F, 2 in; Apr: high 56°F, low 34°F, 3.6 in; May: high 69°F, low 46°F, 3.7 in; Jun: high 80°F, low 57°F, 3.9 in; Jul: high 84°F, low 61°F, 3.2 in; Aug: high 82°F, low 59°F, 3.8 in; Sep: high 74°F, low 51°F, 2.8 in; Oct: high 60°F, low 41°F, 3.5 in; Nov: high 46°F, low 31°F, 2.8 in; Dec: high 35°F, low 22°F, 2.4 in30°16°Jan2.132°17°Feb1.743°24°Mar2.056°34°Apr3.669°46°May3.780°57°Jun3.984°61°Jul3.282°59°Aug3.874°51°Sep2.860°41°Oct3.546°31°Nov2.835°22°Dec2.4Rain and melted snow, inches

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Central Michigan Univ, MI weather station (16 miles away).

Jobs in Clare County

6,793 jobs at 607 businesses in Clare County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Clare CountyHealth care and social assistance: 1,212 jobs; Hotels and restaurants: 1,149 jobs; Retail trade: 1,121 jobs; Manufacturing: 997 jobs; Transportation and warehousing: 521 jobs; Administrative and support: 339 jobs; Construction: 307 jobs; Other services: 297 jobsHealth care and social assistance 18% Hotels and restaurants 17% Retail trade 17% Manufacturing 15% Transportation and warehousing 8% Administrative and support 5% Construction 5% Other services 4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).

Health care

102 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Clare.

Nearest hospitals

  • Mymichigan Medical Center ClareGeneral hospital · no emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · ClareUnder a mile
  • Mclaren Central MichiganGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Mount Pleasant15.4 miles
  • Mymichigan Medical Center GladwinCritical access hospital · emergency room · Gladwin17.1 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors17
Specialist doctors10
Dentists4
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants21
Mental health providers15
Physical and occupational therapists20
Optometrists5
Chiropractors10
Pharmacies5

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.

Places in and around Clare

Parks (8 nearby)

  • Brookwood Park · 32 acres0.9 mi
  • Emerald Isle Recreation Complex · 24 acres1.0 mi
  • Stamina Stadium Park · 16 acres0.6 mi
  • Shamrock Park · 14 acres0.5 mi
  • Pettit Park · 5 acres0.6 mi
  • Clare City Park · 1 acres0.4 mi

Grocery stores (3 nearby)

  • Witbeck's Family Foods0.3 mi
  • ALDI1.0 mi
  • Save-A-Lot1.1 mi

Libraries (1 nearby)

  • Pere Marquette District Library0.3 mi

Museums (1 nearby)

  • Clare Depot0.4 mi

Counts are within about 1.5 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.

Colleges, teams and notable people

Established in 1870.

Source: Wikidata (wikidata.org), the free knowledge base; people are listed by place of birth.

Schools in Clare

Public schools here are run by Clare Public Schools, Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.

Public schools (5)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Clare Primary SchoolClarePre-K–4557Public0.1 mi
ClareGladwin Area SchoolClarePre-K–1247Special Education9.7 mi
Clare Middle SchoolClare5–8474Public0.1 mi
Clare High SchoolClare9–12478Public0.2 mi
Clare Pioneer High SchoolClare9–1245Alternative Education1.1 mi
Private schools (3)
SchoolGradesStudentsAffiliationDistance
East Dover SchoolClare1–827Amish4.8 mi
Great Lakes Mennonite SchoolClare1–937Mennonite1.2 mi
Shady Lawn Amish Parochial SchoolClare1–827Amish6.3 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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Towns near Clare

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Shares ZIP codes with Grant Township (Clare County), Sheridan Township (Clare County), Vernon Township (Isabella County), Wise, Arthur, Hatton and Clare City.

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.