Town guide

Wise, Michigan

Wise is a township in Isabella County, Michigan, home to about 1,160 people across 37 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 48617 and 48618.

Homes sold for a median of $146 per square foot across 2 ZIP codes in the three months ending August 2026, and 1 of 2 were seller’s markets.

Population1,16032 per sq mi
Median home value$138,200Census, as estimated by owners
Price per sq ft$146Sold homes, 3 months to August 2026
Sold over asking13%Median of 2 ZIP codes

ZIP codes in Wise

2 ZIP codes, 2 shared with neighboring towns

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

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We’re writing up Wise’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 Wise

Distances

Nearest major airportGerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR)75 miles away
Closer regional airportMBS International Airport (MBS)36 miles away
Nearest city of 250,000+Detroit, MI126 miles away
Nearest city of 1 million+Chicago, IL203 miles away

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

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

Who represents Wise

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

Wise had 1,355 residents in the 2020 census, up 4% since 2000.

It’s the 1119th largest of 1,531 towns in Michigan by population.

Isabella County grew from 22,784 residents in 1900 to 64,394 in 2020.

Wise population by census2000: 1,301, 2010: 1,397, 2020: 1,3551,30120001,39720101,3552020

Isabella County, 1900–2020

Isabella County population, 1900 to 20201900: 22,784, 1910: 23,029, 1920: 22,610, 1930: 21,126, 1940: 25,982, 1950: 28,964, 1960: 35,348, 1970: 44,594, 1980: 54,110, 1990: 54,624, 2000: 63,351, 2010: 70,311, 2020: 64,39423K’00’1023K’20’3026K’40’5035K’60’7054K’80’9063K’00’1064K’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 WiseJan: 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 (15 miles away).

Jobs in Isabella County

25,575 jobs at 1,423 businesses in Isabella County. The biggest industries by employees:

Largest industries in Isabella CountyHotels and restaurants: 5,712 jobs; Manufacturing: 3,479 jobs; Retail trade: 3,436 jobs; Health care and social assistance: 3,125 jobs; Construction: 2,738 jobs; Real estate and rentals: 1,210 jobs; Administrative and support: 1,051 jobs; Company headquarters: 904 jobsHotels and restaurants 22% Manufacturing 14% Retail trade 13% Health care and social assistance 12% Construction 11% Real estate and rentals 5% Administrative and support 4% Company headquarters 4%

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

Health care

105 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Wise’s ZIP codes.

Nearest hospitals

  • Mymichigan Medical Center ClareGeneral hospital · no emergency room · CMS rating 2 of 5 · Clare3.9 miles
  • Mclaren Central MichiganGeneral hospital · emergency room · CMS rating 3 of 5 · Mount Pleasant13.9 miles
  • Mymichigan Medical Center GladwinCritical access hospital · emergency room · Gladwin16.1 miles

Providers with an office here

Primary care doctors17
Specialist doctors10
Dentists4
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants21
Mental health providers17
Physical and occupational therapists21
Optometrists5
Chiropractors10
Pharmacies6

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 Wise

Parks (7 nearby)

  • Herrick Recreation Area · 114 acres1.0 mi
  • Emerald Isle Recreation Complex · 24 acres3.8 mi
  • Stamina Stadium Park · 16 acres3.4 mi
  • Clare City Park · 1 acres4.0 mi
  • Wise Township Park · 1 acres1.5 mi
  • Clare Union Railroad Depot Park · 1 acres4.0 mi

Grocery stores (1 nearby)

  • Witbeck's Family Foods4.0 mi

Pharmacies

  • Coleman Family Pharmacy & Compounding Lab6.2 mi

Libraries (1 nearby)

  • Pere Marquette District Library3.8 mi

Museums (1 nearby)

  • Clare Depot3.9 mi

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.

Schools in Wise

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

Public schools (7)
SchoolGradesStudentsTypeDistance
Clare Primary SchoolClarePre-K–4557Public3.9 mi
ClareGladwin Area SchoolClarePre-K–1247Special Education12.1 mi
Coleman Elementary SchoolColemanK–6315Public6.8 mi
Clare Middle SchoolClare5–8474Public3.8 mi
Coleman JuniorSenior High SchoolColeman7–12244Public7.1 mi
Clare High SchoolClare9–12478Public3.8 mi
Clare Pioneer High SchoolClare9–1245Alternative Education4.8 mi
Private schools (3)
SchoolGradesStudentsAffiliationDistance
East Dover SchoolClare1–827Amish6.4 mi
Great Lakes Mennonite SchoolClare1–937Mennonite4.9 mi
Shady Lawn Amish Parochial SchoolClare1–827Amish5.1 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 Wise

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Shares ZIP codes with Clare, Warren Township, Grant Township (Clare County), Sheridan Township (Clare County), Coleman, Vernon Township (Isabella County), Geneva Township (Midland County), Jerome, Edenville, Denver Township (Isabella County), 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.