Claybanks
Surrounded by nature
1 home for sale·Median $400K·Schools 5.0/10
The gravel crunches under your tires as you turn down a road lined with tall pines, and suddenly you realize the air smells different—cleaner, carrying that particular tang of water and sand. This stretch of Mason County sits right on Lake Michigan's shoreline, where properties anchor themselves on anywhere from a few feet to hundreds of feet of frontage, and the whole character of the place hinges on that proximity to water. You'll find a coffee shop less than a mile away, and there's a decent restaurant scene within walking distance or a short drive—eight options clustered nearby—so you're not entirely cut off from basic dining. The park sits right adjacent if you want a local green space without leaving the neighborhood. Groceries are about four and a half miles out, which means a quick errand becomes a small drive, the kind of trade-off people living lakefront have made forever and don't seem to mind much. The homes here tend toward the practical: garages with room for toys and boats, decks facing the water, basement spaces that can do double duty, properties on acreage where you actually own some land. A lot of the appeal is obvious—you're living on one of the Great Lakes—but it's the low-key acceptance of that fact that feels genuine: these aren't vacation homes pretending to be permanent ones. They're built for people who genuinely want to wake up to Michigan water every morning.
Why people love it here
Lake life
- Stony Lake within walking distance
$66K median household income
- $400K median · 5 sales in last 12mo
Mortgage Calculator
Median home price in Claybanks
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,715/mo
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. This is not a commitment to lend or an offer of credit. Your actual rate, payment, and costs may vary. Contact a loan officer for a personalized quote.
Guild Mortgage NMLS #3274. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS Consumer Access
5 homes sold in Claybanks this year. Thinking of selling?
See what your home is worthFlood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Claybanks Township Park
2.3 mi
Parks Nearby
0
within 1 mile
Nearest Lake
Stony Lake
0.1 mi
Based on 3 rated schools nearby
Range: 4/10 to 6/10
School District: Montague Area Public Schools
Most of Claybanks is policed by the Oceana County Sheriff's Office. Across that jurisdiction in 2024, the most common reported offenses were larceny / theft (470 per 100,000 residents) and aggravated assault (180 per 100,000 residents), per FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
For perspective, homicide — the most serious crime — was reported at about 0.005% of the population, roughly 1 in 20,000 residents.
| Offense type | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|
| Larceny / theft | 470 |
| Aggravated assault | 180 |
| Burglary | 119 |
| Motor-vehicle theft | 76 |
| Rape | 71 |
| Robbery | 9 |
| Homicide | 5 |
| Arson | 0 |
Reported offenses per 100,000 residents, Oceana County Sheriff's Office, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (2024). Figures cover the Oceana County Sheriff's Office's full jurisdiction (the county's unincorporated areas), not Claybanks alone. Crime is reported at the jurisdiction level and varies block to block within any community.
To buy a median-priced Claybanks home (around $399,900) at today's 6.43% 30-year fixed rate with 20% down, you'd need roughly $63k/year in household income to qualify — an estimated monthly payment of $2,359 (principal, interest, property tax, and insurance).
The typical Claybanks household earns $66,250 — above what the median home requires. At that income, a buyer can afford roughly $423,000 with 20% down.
| Down payment | Monthly payment | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,359/mo | $62,897 |
| 10% (+PMI) | $2,760/mo | $73,587 |
| 5% (+PMI) | $2,893/mo | $77,155 |
Estimates use a 6.43% 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 and median property taxes, plus estimated insurance and PMI below 20% down. Not an APR or a commitment to lend — your actual rate and payment will vary.
Land for sale
Listings
3 parcels
Active / pending
Typical Land Value
$12K/acre
Median asking
Median Price
$300K
Per listing
Local Government
Claybanks Township
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.
Private well
Rural shoreline township; individual wells
Septic - individual
No municipal sewer; individual septic
Resident-arranged private hauler; Oceana County transfer/recycling
No municipal collection; county transfer/recycling available
Service splits by location — other areas may be served by Great Lakes Energy. Confirm by address.
Confirm by addressNo piped natural gas (propane/LP)
Rural; typically propane
Confirm by addressShelby-Benona Fire Department (area coverage)
Served by area fire departments via county dispatch
Source: oceana.mi.us
Utility, solar, and service details for Claybanks 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.
Median Income
$66K
Home Value (Census)
$250K
🍕 Restaurants(8)
Salt & Twist
Restaurant
The Grill
Restaurant
The Silo
Restaurant
The Pig Pen
Restaurant
The Social Goat Tavern
Restaurant
+3 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(1)
Lewis Coffee Company
Café
🏫 Schools(7)
Girdle Road School
Pine Grove School
Flower Creek School
Cranston School
Bradyville School
+2 more within 5 miles
Frequently asked about Claybanks
- What do homes cost in Claybanks?
- The median home value in Claybanks is about $399,900. Individual prices vary by street, size, and condition.
- How active is the Claybanks housing market?
- there is 1 home for sale in Claybanks right now, and 5 homes sold here in the last 12 months. Listings refresh throughout the day from the MichRIC MLS.
- What schools serve Claybanks?
- Claybanks is served by Montague Area Public Schools. Its highest-rated assigned school is Montague High School (6/10).
Top contributors in Claybanks
Detailed statistics are being computed for this location. Demographics, home values, schools, flood risk, and more will appear here automatically.