The Town FilesClawson, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 11,389 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $267,100
- Household income
- $88,636
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 39.4
Clawson is a city of 11,389 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $267,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 99% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 98% of Michigan towns.
How Clawson 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 Clawson is worth $267,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $88,636, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,253 a month. 75.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Clawson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $267,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,253 | $955 |
| Median household income | $88,636 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Clawson
| People | Clawson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 22.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Clawson
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clawson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 75 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 14, 1990.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 2, 1983.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 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 Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Clawson itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Clawson
4 public schools with 1,166 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul A Schalm School | K-5 | 378 | 13.5 |
| Clawson High School | 7-12 | 360 | 17.1 |
| Clawson Middle School | 5-8 | 266 | 15.6 |
| Kenwood Elementary School | PK-5 | 162 | 13.5 |
Towns near Clawson
- Royal Oak, MI2.0 mi · 58,211 people · home $328,700
- Madison Heights, MI3.1 mi · 28,468 people · home $199,100
- Berkley, MI3.2 mi · 15,194 people · home $316,700
- Troy, MI3.3 mi · 87,294 people · home $420,300
- Birmingham, MI3.4 mi · 21,813 people · home $698,300
- Huntington Woods, MI3.9 mi · 6,388 people · home $473,900
- Pleasant Ridge, MI4.5 mi · 2,627 people · home $448,700
- Beverly Hills, MI4.7 mi · 10,584 people · home $511,000
Clawson questions
Is Clawson, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Clawson scores better for retirees than 67% of Michigan towns and quieter than 8%. 19.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Clawson?
The median owner-occupied home in Clawson is valued at $267,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,636, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,253 a month.
What is the weather like in Clawson?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Clawson get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Clawson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 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)