Population 31,218 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Clare County
Household size in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.58 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.31 | 2.58 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.53 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.55 | 2.51 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.20 | −0.06 | −0.03 |
The average household in Clare County has 2.55 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.35, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.6 | 38.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.0 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.0 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.1 | 41.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.4 | +2.4 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 47.1, Clare County is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 44.6, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southeast and oldest in the west.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.6% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 11.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in Clare County (9.0%), below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged down 0.6 points, in line with the national trend.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Clare County
Renters in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 25.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.9% | 28.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 28.8% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 13.1% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −6.9 pts | +1.0 pts | +1.5 pts |
Clare County is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 13.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 52.1% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 6.9 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.9% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 35.4% | 13.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 40.7% | 11.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 36.4% | 10.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 36.4% of the housing in Clare County, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1969 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1970 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1972 | 1980 |
| Change | +2 | +3 | +6 |
The typical home in Clare County was built around 1976, about the same vintage as the country's housing overall (1980). The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $620 | $833 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $619 | $886 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $694 | $978 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $757 | $1,228 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$137 | +$395 | +$606 |
Rent in Clare County runs $757 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $137 a month from 2006–10, a 22% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 31.7% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the west and lowest in the east.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Clare County
Bachelor's degrees in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.5% | 26.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 27.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 13.0% | 29.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 13.3% | 32.7% | 35.6% |
| Change | +2.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Clare County: 13.3% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 2.9 points, as it has nationally. Only one other Michigan county has a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 82.6% | 88.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 83.9% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 85.0% | 90.7% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.1% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +3.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Clare County have finished high school as nationally: 88.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in Michigan overall (91.8%). The share with a diploma is up 5.5 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Clare County
| Period | Clare County | Michigan | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.4% | 11.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 16.4% | 11.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.1% | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 5.9% | 5.4% |
| Change | −8.3 pts | −5.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Clare County: 9.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. No other Michigan county has higher unemployment. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 8.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Clare County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clare County | 2.55 | 47.1 | 9.0% | 13.1% | 36.4% | 1976 | $757 | 13.3% | 88.1% | 9.1% |
| Gladwin County | 2.31 | 50.5 | 4.9% | 13.9% | 28.5% | 1980 | $817 | 17.1% | 88.8% | 6.7% |
| Osceola County | 2.44 | 43.9 | 10.0% | 16.3% | 23.8% | 1976 | $853 | 16.5% | 89.8% | 6.1% |
| Arenac County | 2.29 | 49.5 | 7.9% | 13.8% | 27.3% | 1977 | $750 | 16.1% | 88.3% | 6.3% |
| Lake County | 2.33 | 49.0 | 9.9% | 18.0% | 52.4% | 1976 | $913 | 12.3% | 84.7% | 6.6% |
| Mason County | 2.29 | 47.7 | 8.9% | 21.7% | 23.5% | 1973 | $892 | 26.1% | 94.1% | 4.6% |
| Huron County | 2.19 | 48.9 | 6.7% | 18.2% | 23.4% | 1966 | $787 | 18.5% | 92.6% | 4.1% |
| Green Lake County | 2.33 | 46.0 | 9.3% | 25.5% | 18.7% | 1969 | $797 | 22.6% | 91.4% | 2.7% |
| Marquette County | 2.25 | 50.2 | 7.3% | 18.8% | 26.2% | 1976 | $826 | 16.3% | 92.1% | 2.7% |
| Adams County | 2.17 | 54.4 | 5.7% | 13.8% | 39.9% | 1983 | $1,073 | 17.5% | 89.6% | 5.2% |
| Juneau County | 2.28 | 46.2 | 8.8% | 21.9% | 21.2% | 1977 | $913 | 16.6% | 90.4% | 4.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Adair County, MO · Yates County, NY · Yankton County, SD · Meigs County, OH · Mayes County, OK · McDonald County, MO · McDonough County, IL · McDuffie County, GA · McKean County, PA · McNairy County, TN
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Clare County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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