The Town FilesErie, Michigan
Township in Monroe County · population 4,299 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $197,100
- Household income
- $71,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 36.8
Erie is a township of 4,299 people in Monroe County, Michigan. The median home is worth $197,100, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 81% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Erie 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 Erie is worth $197,100, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $71,250, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $934 a month. 93.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Erie | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $197,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $934 | $955 |
| Median household income | $71,250 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Erie
| People | Erie | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Erie
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.1°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 118 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erie since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 3.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 260 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 15, 2023.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 41,159 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,516 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Erie itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Erie
3 public schools with 990 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason Central School | PK-5 | 426 | 15.8 |
| Mason Senior High School | 9-12 | 324 | 18.0 |
| Mason Middle School | 6-8 | 240 | 17.1 |
Towns near Erie
- Temperance, MI4.6 mi · 9,188 people · home $250,100
- La Salle, MI5.7 mi · 4,639 people · home $233,200
- Bedford, MI5.9 mi · 31,813 people · home $253,100
- Lambertville, MI7.5 mi · 10,433 people · home $256,400
- Oregon, OH8.5 mi · 19,950 people · home $204,600
- Monroe, MI8.7 mi · 14,391 people · home $187,200
- Ida, MI8.8 mi · 4,783 people · home $317,100
- South Monroe, MI8.8 mi · 6,468 people · home $184,000
Erie questions
Is Erie, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Erie scores better for retirees than 45% of Michigan towns and quieter than 53%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.8).
How much does a house cost in Erie?
The median owner-occupied home in Erie is valued at $197,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,250, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $934 a month.
What is the weather like in Erie?
July highs average 84.6°F and January lows 20.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 39.5 inches of snow.
Does Erie get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Erie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)