The Town Files

Kalkaska County, Michigan

18,239 people. The median home is worth $188,900 (typical Michigan town: $193,900) and the median household earns $68,578.

Towns in Kalkaska County

Towns in Kalkaska County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Kalkaska5,027$173,900$64,25341.3

People and housing

Kalkaska CountyTypical Michigan town
Median home value$188,900$193,900
Median rent$853$955
Median household income$68,578$69,792
Median age44.443.7
Bachelor's degree or higher19.0%21.5%
Below the poverty line12.2%10.4%

Jobs and pay

4,860 jobs in 2024, average pay $60,400 a year.

Largest industries in Kalkaska CountyConstruction559 jobs · $91,110Retail472 jobs · $42,574Mining, oil & gas332 jobs · $86,903Manufacturing287 jobs · $55,790Wholesale trade219 jobs · $77,924Agriculture, forestry & fishi…150 jobs · $48,565
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Kalkaska County0%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023 5.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 227 storm events in Kalkaska County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Kalkaska County by type since 1996Hail17Tornado4Blizzard6High Wind4Ice Storm4Lightning2Heavy Snow55Flash Flood2Winter Storm62Lake-Effect Snow20
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Kalkaska County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 30, 2026FloodDR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
July 22, 2025Severe Ice StormDR-4880: Severe Winter Storm
March 27, 2020BiologicalDR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3455: Covid-19
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
January 27, 1978SnowstormEM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).