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MI area data

Bear Lake, MI

Bear Lake, MI.

Population: 2,678 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in Bear Lake, MI is $316,962 — up 11.0% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $292,000 after a median 54 days on market. 2 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Very Low, with winter weather, lightning the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 3.8% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$316,962

Typical home value

+11.0%

1-year change

54

Median days on market

Very Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$316,962
1-year appreciation
+11.0%
3-year appreciation
+22.0%
5-year appreciation
+34.8%
10-year appreciation
+130.9%
Peak value since 2000 (Aug 2026)
$316,962
House Price Index (state)
400.5 (+3.7% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$292,000
Median list price
$297,500
Median price per sqft
$201
1-year sale-price change
+32.7%
Median days on market
54 days
Homes sold (recent period)
13
For-sale inventory
20
Sale-to-list ratio
98.5%
Active listings
23
New listings (monthly)
7

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Studio fair-market rent
$761/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$822/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,067/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$1,360/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$1,402/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Average)
96.2 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
20.0¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$10.90/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
2
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
0
High schools
1
Avg student-teacher ratio
17.5 : 1
Schools include
Bear Lake High School, Bear Lake Elementary School

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Very Low
Top hazards (county)
winter weather, lightning
Notable hazard ratings (county)
winter weather: Relatively High · lightning: Relatively Moderate · cold wave: Relatively Low · landslide: Relatively Low · strong wind: Relatively Low · inland flooding: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 24% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
69.7%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Packaging Corp. of America (14.1 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
48.0°F
Average high
56.0°F
Average low
39.0°F
Annual precipitation
36.3 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
6a (extreme annual low -10 to -5°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
33
Days with Good air quality
287
Days with Moderate air quality
65
Days with Unhealthy air quality
3
Highest AQI recorded (year)
167

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
1
Nearest national park
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (37 mi)
Airports within 30 mi
8
Nearest airport
Manistee County Blacker Airport (MBL) (11 mi)
Nearest major airport
Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) (36 mi)
Hospitals in or near this ZIP
5
Hospitals include
MUNSON HEALTHCARE CADILLAC HOSPITAL, MUNSON MEDICAL CENTER, COREWELL HEALTH LUDINGTON HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
4.0 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.7 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+43 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1977
Housing built before 1970
41.8%
Housing built 2000 or later
21.2%
Median annual property tax
$2,142
Mean commute to work
22 min
Households with broadband internet
56.6%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
5,082
Average weekly wage
$998
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Construction, Wholesale Trade
Annual residential building permits (county)
132

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

Bear LakeState medianUS median
Typical home value$316,962$242,800$288,527
Median sale price$292,000$265,000$325,000
Median days on market54 days36 days51 days
Median annual property tax$2,142$2,175$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in Bear Lake, MI?
$316,962.
What is the median sale price in Bear Lake, MI?
$292,000.
How long do homes take to sell in Bear Lake, MI?
Median days on market: 54 days.
What is typical rent in Bear Lake, MI?
2-bedroom fair-market rent: $1,067/month (HUD FMR — a 40th-percentile regulatory reference, not market-observed).
What is the natural-hazard risk in Bear Lake, MI?
Overall risk: Very Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: winter weather, lightning.
What is the wildfire risk in Bear Lake, MI?
Risk to homes is higher than 24% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in Bear Lake, MI?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near Bear Lake, MI?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve Bear Lake, MI?
2 schools (1 elementary, 1 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
What is the air quality in Bear Lake, MI?
Good. Median AQI: 33. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in Bear Lake, MI?
Regional Price Parity: 96.2 (100 = US average) (Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP code for Bear Lake

Listing a home in Bear Lake, MI?

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents