The Town FilesBenton, Michigan
Township in Cheboygan County · population 3,133 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $200,900
- Household income
- $68,401
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 88 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 53.6
Benton is a township of 3,133 people in Cheboygan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $200,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Michigan towns, quieter than 88% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $200,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $68,401, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $936 a month. 93.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $200,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $936 | $955 |
| Median household income | $68,401 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.3% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 87.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 5, 1955 about 7.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 16, 1978.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 21, 2025.
Severe weather in Cheboygan County since 1996
Cheboygan County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Cheboygan County
Cheboygan County had 6,140 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,915 a year. Unemployment was 8.2% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 5.3%.
Towns near Benton
- Cheboygan, MI5.3 mi · 4,770 people · home $123,200
- Tuscarora, MI17.8 mi · 3,080 people · home $253,700
- Littlefield, MI23.3 mi · 3,200 people · home $256,500
- Little Traverse, MI28.5 mi · 2,657 people · home $345,400
Benton questions
Is Benton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 84% of Michigan towns and quieter than 88%. 32.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $200,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,401, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $936 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 87.6 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 5, 1955. 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)