City

Bear Lake, MI

1 ZIP code  ·  Manistee County  ·  Michigan

👥2,903Population
💰$71,389Median HH Income≈ Avg
🎂53.4Median Age
🏠$203,900Median Home Value▼ 27% below avg
🎓39.3%College Grads≈ Avg
📊2.3%Unemployment▼ 52% below avg
People & Population (ACS 2023 — weighted avg)
♂ Male 50.3% Female 49.7% ♀

Race & Ethnicity

White: 90.3%Hispanic: 2.4%Black: 0.3%Other: 6.1%Race
White90.3%
Hispanic2.4%
Black0.3%
Other6.1%

Age Breakdown

Under 5
4%
5–17
12%
18–24
7%
25–44
19%
45–64
27%
65+
11%

Key Indicators

Median Age53.4 yrs
Avg HH Size2.40
Below Poverty7.8% ▼ 22% below avg
College Grads39.3% ≈ Avg
Unemployment2.3% ▼ 52% below avg
No HS Diploma8 (0.4%)
HS Graduate762 (35.3%)
Some College214 (9.9%)
Associates325 (15.1%)
Bachelors206 (9.6%)
Graduate Degree641 (29.7%)

Education

No HS: 0.4%HS Grad: 35.3%Some College: 9.9%Associates: 15.1%Bachelors: 9.6%Graduate: 29.7%Edu
No HS0.4%
HS Grad35.3%
Some College9.9%
Associates15.1%
Bachelors9.6%
Graduate29.7%
Housing & Income

Housing Tenure

Owner: 95.4%Renter: 4.6%Tenure
Owner95.4%
Renter4.6%

Home Value Distribution

Under $50k
8%
$50k–$100k
14%
$100k–$150k
16%
$150k–$200k
12%
$200k–$300k
25%
$300k–$500k
17%
Over $500k
9%

Financials

Median HH Income$71,389 ≈ Avg
Median Home Value$203,900 ▼ 27% below avg
Home/Income Ratio2.9x (nat avg ~3.5x)
Median Rent$963/mo
Total Housing Units1,967
Vacant Units789

Income Distribution

Under $25k
14%
$25k–$50k
16%
$50k–$75k
21%
$75k–$100k
17%
$100k–$150k
20%
$150k–$200k
7%
Over $200k
5%
Employment & Commute

How People Get to Work

Drove Alone
87%
Public Transit
0%
Walked
2%
Work From Home
11%

Commute Time

Under 15 min
33%
15–30 min
42%
30–45 min
9%
Over 45 min
16%
Housing Stock

Year Built

Before 1940
3%
1940s–1950s
9%
1960s–1970s
15%
1980s–1990s
17%
2000+
57%
About Bear Lake, MI

Bear Lake is a city in Michigan, located in Manistee County. The city spans 1 ZIP code and is home to approximately 2,903 residents. It is a mature city, with a median age of 53.4 years.

Economically, Bear Lake is a solidly middle-class community. The median household income of $71,389 is near the national average. Approximately 7.8% of residents live below the poverty line. The unemployment rate is 2.3%, well below the national average.

The real estate market in Bear Lake is an affordable housing market. Median home values stand at $203,900, which is below the national average. Renters typically pay around $963 per month. Homeownership is high at 95.4%, typical of suburban and family-oriented communities.

The population of Bear Lake is moderately educated. 39.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — near the national average. The community is primarily White (90.25%).

Bear Lake, MI offers residents a cost-conscious lifestyle within Michigan.

ZIP Codes in Bear Lake
ZIPPopulationMedian IncomeMedian HomeMedian RentUnemp.CollegeOwner Occ.
49614 2,903 $71,389 $203,900 $963 2.3% 39.3% 95.4%