Plat book of Ogemaw County, Michigan, 1903
West Branch’s story
153 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1903.
- 1873West Branch is settled
West BranchMI
A town of 2,370, settled in 1873. 2.4 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Michigan town.
Trash day: WednesdayPopulation
2,370
2025 Census estimate · +1.2% since 2020
Typical home
$217K
+6.9% in a year
Household income
$41K
median
Median age
43.0
years
Jobs based here
2,188
A job hub
Is West Branch a good place to live?
West Branch’s best subject grades are an A− for walkability and an A+ for civic life; its weakest is a D− for incomes. On civic life, just 20 of Michigan’s 1,265 towns do better. The biggest park or preserve is Tolfree Wellness Park, at 21 acres. West Branch has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes West Branch stand out
Where West Branch beats most towns.
Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents
West Branch7.5
Typical U.S. town3.7
Typical MI town3.1
Civic lifeA+
2.4 times the nonprofits per person
than the typical Michigan town
Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here2,188
Residents who work801
Work
2.7 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 97% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
A job hub
Every workday, about 2,002 people come to West Branch for work
Where West Branch’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,188jobs based in West Branch
23%of working residents work in town
25 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2021
How West Branch grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Michigan), ordered by how far West Branch is from typical.
Jobs & income$41K median household incomeD−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.6 of 20; 16.9% of households have no car; 5.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →HealthMymichigan Medical Center West Branch 3.1 miles awayC−Open →SafetyB+Open →SchoolsB+Open →Cost of livingTypical home $217K, 4 years of the county’s $55K median household incomeC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 0% conserved landB−Open →History6 notable people born hereC+Open →Civic life7.5 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$217K typical home, up 6.9% in a year–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 43.0; 22% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to West Branch: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in West Branch, and how to reach them.
PowerDTE20.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCity of West Branch water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers82% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWednesdayTrash dayTown site
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 hereWest Branch City ClerkThe town itself; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code4866148661 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 West Branch.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D−
West Branch stands out in Michigan and nationally: the median household income there is lower
In West Branch, 23% of residents live below the poverty line, above both the Michigan town median (8.9%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Between 2011 and 2021, jobs in West Branch dropped by 363, to 2,188. The mean commuting time for West Branch comes to 22 minutes. The top destinations are West Branch Township (13%), Saginaw Township (2%) and Ogemaw Township (2%).
23%work in town
| West Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 23% | 8.9% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 23% | 5.9% | 8% |
| Median household income | $41,000 | $77,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In West Branch23%
West Branch Township13%
Saginaw Township2%
Ogemaw Township2%
Horton Township2%
25 mi
median commute distance
2,188
jobs based in West Branch
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 84% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2021 · ACS
SchoolsB+
West Branch’s public schools outperform 65% of Michigan districts
Its public schools are run by the West Branch-Rose City Area Schools. One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. The 2 public schools in West Branch teach 1,149 students between them.
65%of MI districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surline Middle SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 5–8 | Grades 5–8 | 580 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MI on state tests and graduation
HealthC−
On CDC estimates, West Branch is less healthy than 82% of U.S. towns
For adults in West Branch, the share who report frequent mental distress is 19%. In West Branch, 29% of adults have been diagnosed with depression, above both Michigan’s towns (27%) and U.S. towns (23%).
18%healthier than U.S. townsC−Health Grade
| West Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 14% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 27% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 36% | 35% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 19% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Michigan
0 better23 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | West Branch | MI |
|---|---|---|
| More adults with COPD | 11.3% | 8.1% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.3% | 7% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 13.3% | 10.2% |
Mymichigan Medical Center West Branch
3.1 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Natural hazards: very low risk in West Branch, mostly inland flooding
Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 84% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in West Branch break down as 43% from inland flooding and 21% from hail.
16risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHailCold waves
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyB+
Crime per resident in West Branch is lower than in 70% of U.S. towns
The property offense rate locally is 16.1 per 1,000 residents. West Branch’s level of violent crime is 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
70%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| West Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16.1 per 1,000 residents | 7.9 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
West Branch0.8
Michigan4.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
West Branch16.1
Michigan13
U.S.15.5
70th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
2
violent crimes reported in 2025
38
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Expect snowy winters and pleasant summers in West Branch
For West Branch, the midsummer high is 81°F.
53″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–31°
Spring31–55°
Summer54–79°
Fall37–58°
Oct 4
typical first frost
May 15
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade C+
Fewer of West Branch’s households are owner-occupiers than in the typical Michigan or U.S. town
Over the 12 months to September 2026, the typical home gained 6.9% in value. For West Branch, the median rent is $842 a month.
$217KZillow home value
| West Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 41% | 84% | 73% |
| Median rent | $842 a month | $1,046 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
West Branch$217K
Michigan$264K
+6.9%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsB−
Open space protected for good: 0.4% of West Branch
Trails run 1.1 miles in 2 parks and preserves. West Branch’s density of trails stands at 0.7 miles per square mile.
0.4%conserved
| West Branch | Michigan towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.7 miles per square mile | 0.3 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 0.4% | 4.4% | 4.3% |
0.4%
conserved · 4 of 979 acres
1.1 mi
of trails · 0.7 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Irons Park | 0.6 mi | 14 |
| 2. Tolfree Wellness Park | — | 21 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about West Branch
20pages on West Branch
The big questions
SchoolsB+Beat 65% of MI districts · 2 schoolsSafetyB+0.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthC−Better than MI on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingC+$217K typical home · up 6.9% in a yearWork & commuteD−$41K median household income · 2,188 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 16% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of West Branch; the nearest are
Kirtland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Grayling32.4 mi$5,190 in-state tuitionCentral Michigan UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Mount Pleasant54.2 mi$14,760 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 West Branch residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Michigan.
Famous people from West Branch
6 notable people were born in West Branch.
About West Branch
City in Michigan, United States
West Branch is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of and the largest incorporated settlement in Ogemaw County. The city had a population of 2,351 at the 2020 census, an increase from 2,139 at the 2010 census. West Branch is mostly surrounded by West Branch Township, but the two are administered autonomously.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 955 ft
- ZIP code
- 48661
- Area code
- 989
West Branch’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with West Branch.
West Branch TownshipOgemaw TownshipWest Branch
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MI rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Branch · West Branch Township | — | — | C+ | B+ | B+ | C− |
| Ogemaw Township | — | — | B− | — | B+ | C− |
West Branch and Ogemaw Township have fewer than 2,500 residents, so they get subject grades but no overall grade. Ogemaw Township reports no FBI crime data of its own. West Branch Township and West Branch are one community, graded once. Compare West Branch with a neighbor →
Questions about West Branch
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is West Branch, MI a good place to live?
2.4 times the nonprofits per person than the typical Michigan town.
Is West Branch, MI expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.
What is West Branch, MI known for?
6 notable people were born here, including Alex Rose and Joy Williams.