Farwell, MI downtown 2022, 2022
Farwell’s story
156 years in pictures
Census counts: 521 in 1880, 880 in 2020. The archive holds 7 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1959 on.
- 1870Farwell is founded
FarwellMI
A town of 899, founded in 1870.
Population
899
2025 Census estimate · +1.6% since 2020
Typical home
$202K
+10.6% in a year
Household income
$42K
median
Median age
43.1
years
Jobs based here
550
A job hub
Is Farwell a good place to live?
26% of residents live below the poverty line in Farwell, where Michigan’s towns sit at 8.9% and U.S. towns at 9.6%. Among 667 Michigan towns, just 2 have a lower median rent than Farwell. Farwell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Farwell stand out
Where Farwell beats most towns.
Small town
899 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Farwell: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Farwell, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVillage of Farwell water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers91% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Farwell’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Michigan you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSurrey Township ClerkSurrey Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2021
ZIP code4862248622 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Farwell.
Work & commute
In Farwell, the median household income runs lower than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
At $42,000, Farwell’s median household income is below both the Michigan town median ($77,000) and the median of U.S. towns ($80,000). Jobs based in Farwell fell to 550 in 2021, 277 fewer than in 2011. Most working residents leave Farwell for work: only 9% work in town.
9%work in town
| Farwell | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $42,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 8.6% | 5.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Farwell9%
Surrey Township13%
Clare8%
Mount Pleasant6%
Chippewa Township6%
21 mi
median commute distance
550
jobs based in Farwell
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Natural hazards
Farwell faces a very low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 87% of U.S. communities.
13risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingStrong windCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Housing
The typical home in Farwell is valued at about $202K
The typical Farwell home is worth about $202,000, up 10.6% in a year, 23% below the Michigan typical home. 69% of households own their home in Farwell.
$202KZillow home value
Typical home value
Farwell$202K
Michigan$264K
+10.6%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
Snowy winters and pleasant summers in Farwell
Farwell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Farwell is 82°F.
49″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter16–31°
Spring33–55°
Summer55–80°
Fall38–59°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Farwell is
Farwell beats the Michigan average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 21% of Farwell adults report frequent mental distress.
| Farwell | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 27% | 23% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Farwell | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 18.4% | 10.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.3% | 8.1% |
| More smokers | 19.6% | 14.6% |
Mclaren Central Michigan
17.3 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
1.7%conserved
1.7%
conserved · 15 of 898 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Au Sable State Forest - Gladwin Unit | — | 48 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Farwell
18pages on Farwell
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Farwell
About 6 of every 100 Farwell residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Michigan.
A job hub
Every workday, about 524 people come to Farwell for work
Where Farwell’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
550jobs based in Farwell
9%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
About Farwell
Village in Michigan, United States
Farwell is a village in Clare County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 880 at the 2020 census. The village is located within Surrey Township about 4.0 miles (6.4 km) west of the city of Clare.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 928 ft
- ZIP code
- 48622
Questions about Farwell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Farwell, MI a good place to live?
Farwell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.