Clearwater is a township in Kalkaska County, Michigan, home to about 2,536 people across 31 square miles. Its ZIP code is 49676, and parts of 49612 and 49690 are in Clearwater too.
Homes sold for a median of $290 per square foot in the three months ending August 2026, a buyer’s market.
Mostly Clearwater; also Milton Township (Antrim County) and Rapid River
Mostly Helena; part is in Clearwater
Mostly Acme; part is in Clearwater
Each card is that ZIP code’s whole market, including any part outside Clearwater. Seller’s market: under 4 months of supply; buyer’s market: over 6. Methodology
We’re writing up Clearwater’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
Are you a local agent who knows Clearwater well? Agents who advertise here will be able to write the guide. Advertise on OfferBacked
| Nearest major airport | Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)136 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Cherry Capital Airport (TVC)15 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Milwaukee, WI181 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Chicago, IL240 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Clearwater; 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.
Clearwater had 2,497 residents in the 2020 census, up 5% since 2000.
It’s the 690th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.
Kalkaska County grew from 7,133 residents in 1900 to 17,939 in 2020.
Kalkaska County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 79°F in summer, and winter lows average 10°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 132 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Kalkaska, MI weather station (10 miles away).
4,120 jobs at 353 businesses in Kalkaska County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
7 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Clearwater.
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 1 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 1 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 1 |
| Mental health providers | 1 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 2 |
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 (7 nearby)
Grocery stores (1 nearby)
Libraries (1 nearby)
Museums (1 nearby)
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 Kalkaska Public Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City Elementary SchoolRapid City | Pre-K–5 | 70 | Public | 1.2 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
Buying or selling around Clearwater? Tell us what you need and when. No agents advertise here yet, so we’ll keep your request for up to 30 days and send it to local agents who join. No obligation, and you choose who to work with.
Loading map…
Shares ZIP codes with Acme, Whitewater, Milton Township (Antrim County), Elk Rapids, Helena, Kalkaska, East Bay, Rapid River and Custer Township (Antrim 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.