The Town FilesChikaming, Michigan
Township in Berrien County · population 2,778 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $366,900
- Household income
- $83,908
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 62.2
Chikaming is a township of 2,778 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $366,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Michigan towns, quieter than 96% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Chikaming 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 Chikaming is worth $366,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $83,908, which is more affordable than 4% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $945 a month. 94.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chikaming | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $366,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $945 | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,908 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 52.8% | — |
Who lives in Chikaming
| People | Chikaming | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 62.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 43.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 8.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 28.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chikaming
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 42.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 119 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chikaming since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 12, 1976 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 6, 1979.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 5, 1969.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Chikaming itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Chikaming
- Lake, MI6.0 mi · 3,316 people · home $299,800
- Baroda, MI9.0 mi · 2,835 people · home $234,400
- Buchanan, MI11.5 mi · 3,436 people · home $194,000
- Lincoln, MI12.5 mi · 14,929 people · home $299,100
- Oronoko, MI12.6 mi · 9,226 people · home $228,100
- Buchanan, MI13.1 mi · 4,300 people · home $154,300
- Bertrand, MI13.8 mi · 2,611 people · home $297,100
- Royalton, MI15.0 mi · 5,141 people · home $356,700
Chikaming questions
Is Chikaming, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chikaming scores better for retirees than 86% of Michigan towns and quieter than 96%. 43.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 62.2).
How much does a house cost in Chikaming?
The median owner-occupied home in Chikaming is valued at $366,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,908, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $945 a month.
What is the weather like in Chikaming?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.5 inches of precipitation a year and 63.2 inches of snow.
Does Chikaming get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chikaming since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 12, 1976. 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)