Moving to Vassar, Michigan

Vassar, Michigan is a small city located in Tuscola County in the east central part of the state. With a population of just over 4,000 people, Vassar is home to a variety of businesses, restaurants and attractions. The city is known for its historic downtown area along with its many parks and recreational activities.

The city was originally founded in 1855 by two brothers from New York, who named it after their father, John Vassar. It quickly grew into an important stop on the railroad line between Bay City and Saginaw. Today, Vassar remains an important transportation hub for the region and is served by Amtrak’s Blue Water Line which runs through town twice daily.

The downtown area of Vassar is full of unique shops, restaurants and other attractions that draw visitors from all over. The city has several parks that provide plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities such as walking trails, playgrounds, tennis courts and more. One of the most popular parks in town is Memorial Park which features a band shell that hosts live music events throughout the year.

Vassar also has several historical sites including the Old City Hall which was built in 1889 and now serves as a museum detailing the history of Vassar as well as other local attractions like Main Street Park which features beautiful Victorian architecture from the late 19th century.

The city holds several annual events such as Pumpkinfest each fall which features music, food vendors, hayrides and more; or Springfest which celebrates local businesses with live entertainment, food vendors and more; or Summerfest which takes place each June featuring carnival rides, live music and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.

Overall Vassar is a great place to visit with plenty to do for all ages! From its historic downtown area to its many parks and recreational activities there’s something for everyone here! From shopping to dining out or just taking a stroll around town there’s no shortage of things to do here in Vassar.

Population: 2,823. Estimated population in July 2024: 2,776 (-1.7% change)
Males: 1,456 (51.6%), Females: 1,367 (48.4%)

Tuscola County

Zip code: 48768

Demographics

Median resident age: 30.5 years
Median household income: $38,087
Median house value: $69,000

Population by Race

Races in Vassar:

• White Non-Hispanic (87.0%)
• Black (8.3%)
• Hispanic (2.9%)
• Two or more races (1.6%)
• Other race (1.3%)
• American Indian (0.9%)

Ancestries: German (28.4%), English (11.2%), Irish (10.9%), United States (5.7%), French (5.2%), Polish (5.0%).

Elevation: 640 feet

Land area: 2.2 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Vassar

• High school or higher: 82.8%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.5%
• Graduate or professional degree: 4.9%
• Unemployed: 7.2%
• Mean travel time to work: 25.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Vassar city

• Never married: 34.3%
• Now married: 48.9%
• Separated: 1.6%
• Widowed: 5.8%
• Divorced: 9.3%

0.2% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +208 (+8.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Vassar:

• CARO CENTER (about 16 miles; CARO, MI)
• CARO COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 16 miles; CARO, MI)
• ST MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER (about 24 miles; SAGINAW, MI)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Vassar:

• BISHOP INTERNATIONAL (about 31 miles; FLINT, MI; Abbreviation: FNT)
• MBS INTL (about 35 miles; SAGINAW, MI; Abbreviation: MBS)
• OAKLAND COUNTY INTERNATIONAL (about 51 miles; PONTIAC, MI; Abbreviation: PTK)

Other public-use airports nearest to Vassar:

• WM ‘TINY’ ZEHNDER FIELD (about 10 miles; FRANKENMUTH, MI; Abbreviation: 66G)
• TUSCOLA AREA (about 12 miles; CARO, MI; Abbreviation: 78D)
• DUFORD FIELD (about 18 miles; GENESEE, MI; Abbreviation: 68G)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Vassar:

• KETTERING UNIVERSITY (about 25 miles; FLINT, MI; Full-time enrollment: 2,900)
• UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-FLINT (about 26 miles; FLINT, MI; Full-time enrollment: 4,544)
• MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 26 miles; FLINT, MI; Full-time enrollment: 4,616)
• BAKER COLLEGE OF FLINT (about 29 miles; FLINT, MI; Full-time enrollment: 2,734)
• SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 32 miles; UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI; Full-time enrollment: 6,216)
• DELTA COLLEGE (about 32 miles; UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI; Full-time enrollment: 5,117)
• NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY (about 51 miles; MIDLAND, MI; Full-time enrollment: 2,784)

Schools

Public high schools in Vassar:

• VASSAR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 541; Location: 220 ATHLETIC STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)
• PIONEER WORK & LEARN CENTER (Students: 283; Location: 150 ENTERPRISE DRIVE; Grades: 07 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Vassar:

• CENTRAL SCHOOL (Students: 474; Location: 220 ATHLETIC STREET; Grades: 03 – 06)
• TOWNSEND NORTH SCHOOL (Students: 316; Location: 220 ATHLETIC STREET; Grades: KG – 02)
• VASSAR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 247; Location: 220 ATHLETIC STREET; Grades: 07 – 08)

Private primary/middle school in Vassar:

• ST LUKE S LUTHERAN SCHOOL (Students: 62; Location: 1056 WELS LANE; Grades: PK – 8)

Libraries

Library in Vassar:

• BULLARD SANFORD MEMORIAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $260,347; Location: 520 WEST HURON AVENUE; 40,231 books; 836 audio materials; 756 video materials; 124 serial subscriptions)