County profile · Michigan
Clare County, MI market data
How Clare County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 31,543
- +2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 12,521
- Median household income
- $49,384
- +24.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $133,800
- Jobs located here
- 6,145
- Highest market score
- 78
- Dentists and orthodontists, #93 of 1,886 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Clare County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Clare County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Clare County has an estimated 31,543 people and 12,521 households. Population estimates put the population change in Clare County from 2020 to 2025 at +2.3%, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Clare County is $49,384, 39% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 24.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Clare County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 95, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and lowest on child care and other personal services (45).
Of the business types scored in Clare County, dentists and orthodontists (78), gyms and studios (64) and HVAC and plumbing companies (62) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For dentists and orthodontists, that ranks #93 of 1,886 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (59% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Clare County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Clare County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentists and orthodontists | 78 | #93 of 1,886 | 6 | 4.8 | $2.4M | 246 | 4 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 64 | #436 of 2,088 | 7 | 5.6 | $1M | 158 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 62 | #419 of 1,707 | 5 | 4.0 | $5.6M | 117 | 5 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 62 | #595 of 2,087 | 7 | 5.6 | $2.9M | 227 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 60 | #659 of 2,385 | 38 | 30.3 | $263K | 124 | 3 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 58 | #675 of 2,063 | 7 | 5.6 | $5.5M | 148 | 5 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 58 | #771 of 2,210 | 12 | 9.6 | $1.7M | 192 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 56 | #567 of 1,472 | 5 | 4.0 | $455K | 67 | 3 |
| Spas and skin care | 55 | #685 of 1,769 | 7 | 5.6 | $1.4M | 163 | Under 3 |
| Home repair trades | 55 | #782 of 2,057 | 11 | 8.8 | $2.5M | 104 | 13 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 54 | #828 of 2,176 | 18 | 14.4 | Index only | 152 | 3 |
| Real estate | 54 | #868 of 2,229 | 22 | 17.6 | Index only | 157 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 52 | #1,078 of 2,405 | 47 | 37.5 | $814K | 123 | 19 |
| Physical therapy | 49 | #744 of 1,422 | 7 | 5.6 | $2.1M | 86 | 4 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 49 | #1,224 of 2,394 | 72 | 57.5 | $202K | 132 | 33 |
| Hair salons | 49 | #1,253 of 2,339 | 26 | 20.8 | $385K | 89 | 3 |
| Insurance agencies | 46 | #1,254 of 2,272 | 14 | 11.2 | $1.3M | 105 | 8 |
| Auto repair shops | 46 | #1,413 of 2,378 | 32 | 25.6 | $357K | 80 | 9 |
| Auto repair and car care | 44 | #1,477 of 2,401 | 49 | 39.1 | $233K | 87 | 17 |
| Child care and preschools | 42 | #1,045 of 1,611 | 5 | 4.0 | $657K | 66 | 5 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 40 | #1,303 of 1,889 | 11 | 8.8 | $3.5M | 84 | 5 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 40 | #1,601 of 2,405 | 98 | 78.3 | $390K | 105 | 54 |
| Pizza | 32 | #1,719 of 2,090 | 10 | 8.0 | $3.8M | 75 | 28 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 32 | #1,770 of 2,222 | 15 | 12.0 | $2.5M | 84 | 28 |
| Chiropractors | 31 | #1,246 of 1,490 | 9 | 7.2 | $1.6M | 68 | 6 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 30 | #1,590 of 1,771 | 16 | 12.8 | $801K | 48 | 13 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 25 | #1,283 of 1,461 | 6 | 4.8 | $1.4M | 53 | Under 3 |
| Convenience stores | 21 | #2,020 of 2,261 | 24 | 19.2 | $2.8M | 35 | 6 |
| Pet businesses | 21 | #2,096 of 2,200 | 19 | 15.2 | $429K | 49 | Under 3 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 20 | #1,445 of 1,493 | 13 | 10.4 | $985K | 34 | 13 |
| Grocery stores | 20 | #1,891 of 2,070 | 20 | 16.0 | $3.3M | 36 | 7 |
| Gas stations | 19 | #2,234 of 2,358 | 34 | 27.2 | $884K | 37 | 23 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 18 | #2,255 of 2,402 | 50 | 39.9 | $1.3M | 39 | 13 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $3.6M | 116 | 4 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $7M | 82 | 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2.9M | 114 | 3 |
| Veterinarians | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 3.2 | $2M | 75 | Under 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.3M | 177 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $3.8M | 123 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $2.4M | 188 | Under 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | Index only | 19 | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $6.7M | 54 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $2.4M | 121 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $2.7M | 60 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 2.4 | $4.8M | 272 | 15 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $13.9M | Too few | 5 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 1.6 | $6.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $11.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $10M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $11.4M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $12.8M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $7.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Clare County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $11.4M | $912 | 95 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $30M | $2,399 | 92 |
| Food away from home | $38.2M | $3,054 | 75 |
| Groceries | $66.1M | $5,277 | 84 |
| Personal care products and services | $10M | $799 | 80 |
| Child care and other personal services | $3.3M | $262 | 45 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $7.3M | $585 | 59 |
| Medical and dental services | $14.5M | $1,161 | 90 |
| Pets | $8.1M | $650 | 72 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $20.2M | $1,616 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $18.4M | $1,473 | 75 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $27.9M | $2,227 | 74 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $12.8M | $1,023 | 72 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $149.3M | $11,924 | 72 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Clare County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 31,543+2.3% since 2020
- Households
- 12,521
- Median age
- 47.5
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 87%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.7
- Land area
- 564 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 55
- Median household income
- $49,384+24.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $68,316
- Median home value
- $133,800
- Jobs located here
- 6,145
- Daytime population
- 27,541Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Clare County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Clare County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
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- Missaukee County, MI15,207 people
- Midland County, MI83,757 people
- Mecosta County, MI41,242 people
- Wexford County, MI34,077 people
Questions
How fast is Clare County, MI growing?
Population estimates put Clare County at 31,543 people in 2025, up 2.3% since 2020, slower than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 12,521 households. Median household income rose 24.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Clare County, MI spend?
Households in Clare County spend about $149.3M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $66.1M on groceries and $38.2M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Clare County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 95, where 100 is the U.S. average, so still below it) and the least on child care and other personal services (45).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Clare County, MI?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Clare County are for dentists and orthodontists (78), gyms and studios (64) and HVAC and plumbing companies (62). Clare County ranks #93 of 1,886 scored counties for dentists and orthodontists.
How does Clare County, MI compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Clare County is $49,384 a year, 39% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 2.3% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $133,800, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Clare County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for clothing, shoe and laundry businesses (59% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 33 of the 56 business types have a score in Clare County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Clare County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Michigan · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Clare County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Clare County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.