The Town FilesBig Creek, Michigan
Township in Oscoda County · population 2,604 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,700
- Household income
- $48,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 55.5
Big Creek is a township of 2,604 people in Oscoda County, Michigan. The median home is worth $111,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Michigan towns, quieter than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Big Creek 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 Big Creek is worth $111,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $48,438, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $683 a month. 87.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Creek | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $683 | $955 |
| Median household income | $48,438 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 45.0% | — |
Who lives in Big Creek
| People | Big Creek | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Big Creek
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Creek since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 18, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 17, 2006.
Severe weather in Oscoda County since 1996
Oscoda County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| 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 Oscoda County
Oscoda County had 1,364 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,287 a year. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2023; in Big Creek itself the ACS puts it at 13.3%.
Towns near Big Creek
- St. Helen, MI18.6 mi · 2,735 people · home $95,600
- Grayling, MI19.9 mi · 5,642 people · home $163,400
- Richfield, MI20.5 mi · 3,545 people · home $110,200
- West Branch, MI21.3 mi · 2,567 people · home $171,600
- Gerrish, MI22.5 mi · 2,796 people · home $232,100
- Plainfield, MI26.6 mi · 3,350 people · home $174,300
- Mills, MI29.2 mi · 3,973 people · home $81,800
- Otsego Lake, MI29.3 mi · 2,857 people · home $218,400
Big Creek questions
Is Big Creek, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Creek scores better for retirees than 44% of Michigan towns and quieter than 90%. 30.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.5).
How much does a house cost in Big Creek?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Creek is valued at $111,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,438, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $683 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Creek?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 57.0 inches of snow.
Does Big Creek get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Big Creek since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2007. 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)