The Town FilesCheboygan, Michigan
City in Cheboygan County · population 4,770 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,200
- Household income
- $42,290
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 88 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 43.3
Cheboygan is a city of 4,770 people in Cheboygan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $123,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Michigan towns, hipper than 94% of Michigan towns, better transit than 94% of Michigan towns.
How Cheboygan 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 Cheboygan is worth $123,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $42,290, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $683 a month. 66.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cheboygan | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $683 | $955 |
| Median household income | $42,290 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 66.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.9% | — |
Who lives in Cheboygan
| People | Cheboygan | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Cheboygan
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 Cheboygan since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 5, 1955 about 8.4 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 Cheboygan itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Public schools in Cheboygan
5 public schools with 1,475 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheboygan Area High School | 8-12 | 580 | 17.1 |
| Cheboygan Intermediate School | 3-5 | 318 | 17.7 |
| East Elementary School | K-3 | 313 | 15.7 |
| Cheboygan Middle School | 4-12 | 197 | 16.4 |
| Inverness Academy | 6-12 | 67 | 22.3 |
Towns near Cheboygan
- Benton, MI5.3 mi · 3,133 people · home $200,900
- Tuscarora, MI17.0 mi · 3,080 people · home $253,700
- Littlefield, MI21.1 mi · 3,200 people · home $256,500
- Little Traverse, MI25.5 mi · 2,657 people · home $345,400
- Bear Creek, MI29.1 mi · 6,542 people · home $364,500
Cheboygan questions
Is Cheboygan, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cheboygan scores better for retirees than 76% of Michigan towns and quieter than 43%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.3).
How much does a house cost in Cheboygan?
The median owner-occupied home in Cheboygan is valued at $123,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,290, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $683 a month.
What is the weather like in Cheboygan?
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 Cheboygan get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cheboygan 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)