Bowens Mill
Easy outdoor access
Median $565K·Walkability 1.3/10·Schools 6.3/10
The water wheel turns year-round at this historic 19-acre mill site, where an 1864 grist mill and cider mill still grind cornmeal and press cider using the original stone machinery. The grounds hold a cluster of restored buildings—an 1840s plank house, the county's oldest one-room schoolhouse from the 1850s, and a Victorian home—arranged around the creek that powers everything. It's become known as a wedding destination, with a covered bridge ceremony site and horse-drawn carriage rides through the grounds, but the real draw is watching water do the work it's done for nearly 160 years. Each fall, the "It's Cider Time Festival" runs from September through October, and year-round you can buy fresh-ground meal directly from the mill. The village itself never grew beyond a handful of residents, but its buckwheat flour once shipped across Michigan until the operation closed in 1912; what stands now is what Neal and Marion Cook restored starting in 1978, now run by the second generation. It's the kind of place where history isn't a plaque on the wall—it's operating machinery and buildings you can actually walk through.
Why people love it here
Near the water
- Hall Lake — 1.5 mi
- Barlow Lake: 6 min bike
- Payne Lake Public Access: 8 min drive
$565K median
- 15 sales in last 12mo
Conventional Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Bowens Mill
Estimated Monthly Payment
$3,836/mo
Property tax and insurance are estimates you can edit — not a quote. Tap either figure to enter your own.
The interest rate shown is not an annual percentage rate (APR). Rate displayed is the current average 30-year fixed rate from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey and is subject to change without notice. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access. Not a commitment to lend. All loans subject to underwriter approval; terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for full eligibility requirements on tax deduction.
15 homes sold in Bowens Mill this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthNearest Park
Payne Lake Public Access
1.6 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Hall Lake
1.5 mi
Based on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 6/10 to 7/10
School District: Thornapple Kellogg School District
Walkability
Car-dependent
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Tom's Meat Market on Gun Lake
Sand Bar & Grill
Payne Lake Public Access
Unnamed playground
Barlow Lake
Unnamed beach
Chief Noonday Trail
Shortcut
Gun Lake Gym
Crime in Bowens Mill is reported at the city level, not the neighborhood level. The FBI doesn't publish reliable crime rates for individual neighborhoods, and within any community crime varies street to street. For an accurate, comparable picture, see the jurisdiction-wide figures for Barry County.
Barry County crime & safety stats →To buy a median-priced Bowens Mill home (around $565,000) at today's 6.49% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $100k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $3,758 (principal, interest, property tax est., and insurance).
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $3,758/mo | $100,213 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $4,327/mo | $115,376 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $4,517/mo | $120,446 |
Estimates use a 6.49% 30-year fixed rate (current Freddie Mac average), an aggressive ~45% housing-to-income ratio (roughly what FHA underwriting can allow for a buyer with no other monthly debts — your number depends on your debts and credit), this area's median sale price, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not a commitment to lend, and not an APR — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Who actually lends in Bowens Mill, and how homes here are financed — from 2024 federal mortgage records.
Loans to buy a home
Most active lenders
Source: 2024 HMDA (CFPB/FFIEC). Neighborhood figures are area-weighted estimates from census-tract data; loan amounts are rounded and all-cash purchases are excluded.
Local Government · area-wide
Yankee Springs Township
Source: yankeespringstwp.org · unconfirmed
Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$918/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,423 kWh/yr · offsets ~61% of a typical home's use
Private well
Based on assessor parcel records
Municipal sewer
Based on assessor parcel records
Resident-arranged private hauler
Residents contract own hauler.
Consumers Energy Co|Great Lakes Energy Coop · ~14.3¢/kWh
Pockets may be served by cooperatives.
Confirm by addressServices for Yankee Springs · Source: yankeespringstwp.org
Utility, solar, and service details for Bowens Mill are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
🛒 Grocery(2)
🍕 Restaurants(6)
Restaurant
Fast Food
Fast Food
Tujax Tu
Restaurant
Red's Sports Bar and Grill
Restaurant
+1 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(1)
Champs Bar
Bar
🏫 Schools(6)
Thornapple Kellogg Early Childhood Center
School
School
+1 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(4)
Payne Lake Public Access
Yankee Springs Township Park
Yankee Springs Recreation Area
+1 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(1)
Middleville Bark Park
Dog Park
🚴 Trails(6)
+3 more within 5 miles
📚 Libraries(1)
Middleville Village Library
Frequently asked about Bowens Mill
- What do homes cost in Bowens Mill?
- The median home value in Bowens Mill is about $565,000. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Bowens Mill housing market?
- there are 8 homes for sale in Bowens Mill right now, and 15 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Bowens Mill?
- Bowens Mill is served by Thornapple Kellogg School District. Its highest-rated assigned school is Thornapple Kellogg Middle School (7/10).
- Is Bowens Mill walkable?
- Bowens Mill scores 1.3/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.
Top contributors in Bowens Mill
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