Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
The best of Harbor Springs’ subject grades are an A for walkability and an A− for safety and schools; the weakest is a C for cost of living. 44% of residents are 65 or older in Harbor Springs, above both Michigan’s towns (19%) and U.S. towns (18%). Only 66 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns score higher on walkability. Harbor Springs’ trail density is 1.6 miles per square mile, where Michigan’s towns sit at 0.3 and U.S. towns at 0.4. Only 13 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns score higher on the outdoors. Harbor Springs's civic life (library use, community groups, volunteering) is stronger than in 96% of U.S. towns. Harbor Springs has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Harbor Springs beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Harbor Springs is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 164 in 1880, a peak of 1,805 in 1910, 1,274 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1890 and 3 maps from 1958 on.
3 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Harbor Springs, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Harbor Springs.
The typical Harbor Springs home is worth about $574,000, up 11.1% in a year, about twice the Michigan typical home. 68% of Harbor Springs households own their home.
| Harbor Springs | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 68% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,027 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Its public schools are run by the Harbor Springs School District. Its three schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shay Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–4 | Grades K–4 | 258 | – |
| Harbor Springs High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 260 | A− |
| Harbor Springs Middle SchoolTop results in townGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 233 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
Most working residents leave Harbor Springs for work: only 10% work in town. Harbor Springs’ average trip to work is 17 minutes. Jobs based in Harbor Springs grew to 799 in 2021, 91 more than in 2011.
| Harbor Springs | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 14% | 10% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 10% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 92% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Harbor Springs since 2026.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
The property crime rate in Harbor Springs is 4 per 1,000 residents.
| Harbor Springs | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 4 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.6 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
25% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Harbor Springs. Of the 702 Michigan towns we compare, none has a higher share of adults who had a checkup this year than Harbor Springs. 12% of adults binge drink in Harbor Springs.
| Harbor Springs | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 34% | 36% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 18% | 17% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 17% | 16% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 86% | 80% | 79% |
| What stands out | Harbor Springs | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 5.6% | 11.9% |
| Fewer adults facing a utility shut-off | 4.1% | 8.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 15.4% | 8.9% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Only 4 of the 702 Michigan towns we compare have a lower July high than Harbor Springs. Harbor Springs has chilly, snowy winters and cool summers.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
2.1 miles of trail in 11 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is Harbor Springs Deer Park, at 30 acres.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kosequat Park | 0.6 mi | 12 |
| 2. Naas, Mauger, Raunecker Nature Preserve | 0.5 mi | 46 |
| 3. Harbor Springs Deer Park | 0.1 mi | 30 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1 within 15 miles of the center of Harbor Springs
About 3 of every 100 Harbor Springs residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Where Harbor Springs’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2021
3 places in Harbor Springs on the National Register of Historic Places.
City in Michigan, United States
Harbor Springs is a city and resort community in Emmet County, Michigan, United States. The population was 1,274 in the 2020 census. Harbor Springs is in a sheltered bay on the north shore of the Little Traverse Bay on Lake Michigan. The Little Traverse Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse on the Harbor Point peninsula, which shelters the deepest natural harbor on the Great Lakes. M-119 connects with US 31 7 miles (11 km) east and south at Bay View and Petoskey, which is 4 miles (6.4 km) away on the south side of the harbor. The area is known for its historic summer resorts, such as Wequetonsing, which was founded by Illinois businessmen and lawyers Henry Stryker III, and Henry Brigham McClu…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.
2 notable people were born here, including Robert Klark Graham and Raymond Wesley Starr.
