Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 2,171, settled in 1877.
Harrison’s best subject grades are a B+ for the outdoors and cost of living; its weakest is a D− for incomes. 26% of residents live below the poverty line in Harrison, above both Michigan’s towns (8.9%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 31 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns score lower on incomes. Residents are less healthy than 91% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. The biggest park or preserve is Clare County Fairground, at 87 acres. Harrison has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
Where Harrison beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far Harrison is from typical.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Census counts: 129 in 1880, a low of 129 in 1880, 2,150 in 2020. The archive holds 13 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 2 maps from 1957 on.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Harrison, 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 Harrison.
18% of Harrison adults report frequent physical distress, above both the Michigan town median (14%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). 20% of adults smoke cigarettes in Harrison. Harrison beats the Michigan average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 18.
| Harrison | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 14% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 15% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 42% | 36% | 35% |
| What stands out | Harrison | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 19.7% | 10.2% |
| More adults with COPD | 12.4% | 8.1% |
| More smokers | 20.1% | 14.6% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Its public schools are run by the Harrison Community Schools. Two of its 4 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert M Larson Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 582 | – |
| Harrison Community High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 281 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 94% of U.S. communities.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Harrison’s median rent is $620 a month. Typical home values rose 6.7% in the year to September 2026. 64% of Harrison households own their home.
| Harrison | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $620 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 64% | 84% | 73% |
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Harrison has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers. The July high in Harrison is 81°F.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Only 9 of the 702 Michigan towns we compare have a lower median household income than Harrison. Jobs based in Harrison grew to 818 in 2021, 490 more than in 2011. Most working residents leave Harrison for work: only 11% work in town.
| Harrison | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $39,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 11% | 5.9% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
| Harrison | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.7% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.4 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Clare County Fairground | — | 87 |
| 2. Harrison City Park | — | 66 |
| 3. Wilson State Park | — | 35 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
1 within 15 miles of the center of Harrison
About 3 of every 100 Harrison residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
City in Michigan, United States
Harrison is a city in and county seat of Clare County, Michigan, United States. The population was 2,150 at the 2020 census. The community was settled as early as 1877 and was named after William Henry Harrison. Wilson State Park and Budd Lake are located within the city.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.