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County tax profile · 2026 · Census ACS + IRS data

Property Tax & Income in Clare County, Michigan

Clare County has an effective property tax rate of 1.11%. On the median home value of $133,800, that's roughly $1,489 per year. Median household income is $49,384.

Effective Property Tax Rate1
1.11%
median tax $1,489 ÷ median home $133,800
Median Home Value1
$133,800
owner-occupied
Median Household Income1
$49,384
per-capita $28,794
Est. Annual Tax on Median Home1
$1,489
at 1.11% effective rate

What you'll pay, at a glance

Property taxes are the largest local tax most homeowners pay. The effective rate measures the real tax bill as a share of home value — a more useful number than the nominal “mill rate,” because assessment practices vary county to county.

MetricClare CountyMichigan (state context)
Effective property tax rate11.11%1.09%
Median home value1$133,800—
State income tax3top rate 4.25%top rate 4.25%
State sales tax36.00% combined6.00% combined

How this is calculated

The effective property tax rate is the median real-estate tax bill divided by the median home value — both for owner-occupied homes, from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-year estimates)1. Median income is also from the ACS1. Federal and state income-tax figures use IRS2 and Tax Foundation3 data.

About Clare County, MI

Clare County's effective property tax rate of 1.113% edges past Michigan's statewide median of 1.087%, placing it 38th among the state's 83 counties. That ranking signals a middle-of-the-pack position within Michigan rather than an outlier on either end. Against the national median of 0.794%, however, the county's rate sits noticeably higher, meaning owners here devote a larger share of their property's value to taxes than the average American homeowner. A median home valued at $133,800 carries an annual real-estate tax bill of $1,489. With median household income at $49,384 and per-capita income of $28,794, those bills weigh against earnings that trail many parts of the country. Clare, the largest of the county's principal communities alongside Farwell and Harrison, reflects this same dynamic. Buyers weighing a move here should expect property taxes that run above both the state and national benchmarks.

Frequently asked questions

What is the property tax rate in Clare County, MI?
The effective rate is 1.11% — meaning the median tax bill equals about 1.11% of the median home value.
How much are property taxes on a median home?
On the median home ($133,800), the estimated annual bill is about $1,489.
Is Clare County's rate high or low?
Compare it to the state median of 1.09% and the national average near 1.1%.
How does the effective rate differ from my mill rate?
A mill rate is the nominal levy per $1,000 of assessed value. The effective rate reflects what you actually pay after exemptions and assessments — it's the median tax bill as a share of median home value, so it better predicts your real cost.
Will a reassessment raise my tax bill?
Not necessarily. If your home's assessed value rises, your bill can go up, but only if the mill rate and exemptions stay flat. Contact the Clare County assessor's office to review your current assessment.
Can I appeal my property tax assessment?
Yes. Most counties allow an appeal when you believe the assessed value exceeds the market value. File with the Clare County assessor within the local deadline, typically with comparable sales as evidence.
Sources
[1] U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-Year (2023) — Median home value (B25077), median real-estate taxes (B25103), median household income (B19013), per-capita income (B19301).
[2] IRS — Statistics of Income — County income, AGI, and real-estate taxes paid.
[3] Tax Foundation — State income, sales, corporate, and estate/inheritance tax rates.