North Branch, Michigan location, 2023
North Branch’s story
170 years in pictures
The archive holds 2 old photos and papers going back to 2005.
- 1856North Branch is settled
North BranchMI
Population
1,111
2025 Census estimate · +0.3% since 2020
Median home value
$152K
Census ACS
Household income
$57K
median
Median age
34.5
years
Jobs based here
370
Balanced
Is North Branch a good place to live?
The best of North Branch’s subject grades are an A− for cost of living and walkability; the weakest is a D for incomes. Only 95 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns score higher on walkability. North Branch's public schools beat 74% of Michigan towns on state tests and graduation. On the outdoors, just 101 of Michigan’s 1,279 towns do worse. North Branch has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes North Branch stand out
Where North Branch beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA−
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
WalkabilityA−
More walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
6.9% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
0historic places
HistoryA−
Settled in 1856
A long history
A history going back 170 years.
Small town
1,111 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How North Branch grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far North Branch is from typical.
Jobs & income$57K median household income; 370 jobs based hereDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 18% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listA−Open →Cost of livingTypical home $152K, 2 years of the Detroit metro’s $77K median household incomeA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.8 of 20; 12.4% of households have no carA−Open →SchoolsB+Open →HealthMarlette Regional Hospital 9.1 miles awayC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsDOpen →History1 notable person born hereA−Open →Civic life2.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsBOpen →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateCold winters, 82° summer afternoons, 34″ of snow–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 34.5; 11% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to North Branch: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in North Branch, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVillage of North Branch water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have North Branch’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 hereNorth Branch Township ClerkNorth Branch Township; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Oct 2021
ZIP code4846148461 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 North Branch.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A−
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in North Branch
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 82% of U.S. communities.
18risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesTornadoes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In North Branch, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
North Branch has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 82°F, North Branch’s July high is against 82°F in Michigan’s towns and 85°F across U.S. towns.
34″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter18–32°
Spring35–56°
Summer58–80°
Fall41–60°
Oct 14
typical first frost
May 4
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
With 0.9 jobs for every working resident, most of North Branch’s workers commute out
Most working residents leave North Branch for work: only 2% work in town. At 33 minutes, North Branch’s average trip to work is above both Michigan’s towns (25 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). 15% of North Branch residents live below the poverty line.
2%work in town
| North Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 33 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 15% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $57,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.1% | 5.9% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In North Branch2%
Lapeer11%
North Branch Township9%
Rochester Hills4%
Imlay City4%
31 mi
median commute distance
370
jobs based in North Branch
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
HealthC+
Health in North Branch trails 56% of U.S. towns
North Branch beats the Michigan average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 29% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in North Branch.
44%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| North Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 27% | 23% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 17% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
1 better29 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | North Branch | MI |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.2% | 3.7% |
| Fewer adults treating high blood pressure | 74.3% | 77.6% |
Marlette Regional Hospital
9.1 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade A−
Homes in North Branch sell for about $190K
North Branch’s median rent is $735 a month.
$190Kmedian sale price
| North Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $735 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 84% | 73% |
1
homes sold in March
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
0%conserved
0%
conserved · 0 of 918 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. North Branch Memorial Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about North Branch
19pages on North Branch
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of North Branch; the nearest are
Mott Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Flint28.2 mi$6,845 in-state tuitionUniversity of Michigan-FlintUniversity or college · Public · Flint29 mi$14,704 in-state tuition
About 8 of every 100 North Branch residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
About North Branch
Village in Michigan, United States
North Branch is a village in Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,096 at the 2020 census. The village is located within North Branch Township.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 814 ft
- ZIP code
- 48461
Questions about North Branch
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is North Branch, MI expensive?
Not for the area. The typical home is worth about $152,000, 42% below the Michigan typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.