The Town FilesArbela, Michigan
Township in Tuscola County · population 2,808 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,400
- Household income
- $65,185
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 47.8
Arbela is a township of 2,808 people in Tuscola County, Michigan. The median home is worth $150,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Arbela ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Arbela is worth $150,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $65,185, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $985 a month. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arbela | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $985 | $955 |
| Median household income | $65,185 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Arbela
| People | Arbela | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 36.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Arbela
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arbela since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 2, 1997 about 7.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 22, 2006.
Severe weather in Tuscola County since 1996
Tuscola County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Tuscola County
Tuscola County had 12,102 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,754 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Arbela itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Arbela
- Birch Run, MI6.1 mi · 5,888 people · home $216,700
- Millington, MI6.2 mi · 4,246 people · home $174,600
- Thetford, MI6.4 mi · 6,640 people · home $203,900
- Frankenmuth, MI6.9 mi · 4,987 people · home $300,500
- Clio, MI7.7 mi · 2,525 people · home $138,200
- Vassar, MI8.0 mi · 2,727 people · home $143,200
- Vassar, MI8.1 mi · 3,890 people · home $123,200
- Forest, MI8.3 mi · 4,447 people · home $200,900
Arbela questions
Is Arbela, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arbela scores better for retirees than 6% of Michigan towns and quieter than 47%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Arbela?
The median owner-occupied home in Arbela is valued at $150,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,185, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $985 a month.
What is the weather like in Arbela?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 48.5 inches of snow.
Does Arbela get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arbela since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 2, 1997. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)