The Town FilesCenter Line, Michigan
City in Macomb County · population 8,552 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,600
- Household income
- $54,703
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 40.5
Center Line is a city of 8,552 people in Macomb County, Michigan. The median home is worth $156,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 98% of Michigan towns.
How Center Line 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 Center Line is worth $156,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $54,703, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $788 a month. 52.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Center Line | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $788 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,703 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 52.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Center Line
| People | Center Line | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Center Line
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F. About 29.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 112 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center Line since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 5.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 111 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 71 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on November 13, 1955.
Severe weather in Macomb County since 1996
Macomb County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Macomb County
Macomb County had 336,295 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,046 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Center Line itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Center Line
5 public schools with 2,475 students, about 17.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center Line Preparatory Academy (charter) | K-12 | 890 | 20.7 |
| Center Line High School | 9-12 | 662 | 16.6 |
| Wolfe Middle School | 6-8 | 513 | 17.1 |
| May V Peck Elementary School | K-5 | 348 | 16.6 |
| Rising Stars Academy (charter) | 12-12 | 62 | 15.5 |
Towns near Center Line
- Warren, MI0.9 mi · 139,387 people · home $193,400
- Hazel Park, MI3.8 mi · 14,983 people · home $158,600
- Eastpointe, MI4.3 mi · 34,318 people · home $142,200
- Madison Heights, MI4.3 mi · 28,468 people · home $199,100
- Roseville, MI5.0 mi · 47,710 people · home $155,800
- Ferndale, MI5.5 mi · 19,190 people · home $247,700
- Fraser, MI5.7 mi · 14,726 people · home $215,900
- Harper Woods, MI5.8 mi · 15,492 people · home $157,200
Center Line questions
Is Center Line, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Center Line scores better for retirees than 7% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.5).
How much does a house cost in Center Line?
The median owner-occupied home in Center Line is valued at $156,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,703, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $788 a month.
What is the weather like in Center Line?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 19.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 27.9 inches of snow.
Does Center Line get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Center Line since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1957. 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)