The Town FilesFenton, Michigan
Charter township in Genesee County · population 16,843 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $354,800
- Household income
- $111,548
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 46.6
Fenton is a charter township of 16,843 people in Genesee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $354,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more upscale than 94% of Michigan towns, better for families than 88% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Fenton 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 Fenton is worth $354,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $111,548, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,508 a month. 91.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fenton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $354,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,508 | $955 |
| Median household income | $111,548 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Fenton
| People | Fenton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Fenton
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fenton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on February 28, 2024 about 7.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 4 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Genesee County since 1996
Genesee County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| January 16, 2016 | Toxic Substances | EM-3375: Contaminated Water |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Genesee County
Genesee County had 133,787 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,798 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Fenton itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Fenton
3 public schools with 1,332 students, about 18.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Shore Elementary School | PK-2 | 474 | 18.2 |
| Lake Fenton Middle School | 6-8 | 452 | 19.7 |
| Torrey Hill Intermediate School | 3-5 | 406 | 18.5 |
Towns near Fenton
- Linden, MI1.7 mi · 4,142 people · home $239,700
- Lake Fenton, MI2.3 mi · 5,905 people · home $396,800
- Fenton, MI2.7 mi · 12,050 people · home $235,900
- Argentine, MI5.2 mi · 2,685 people · home $328,700
- Mundy, MI5.4 mi · 15,281 people · home $214,200
- Argentine, MI5.7 mi · 7,091 people · home $277,200
- Holly, MI6.3 mi · 12,006 people · home $240,800
- Tyrone, MI6.4 mi · 11,986 people · home $370,600
Fenton questions
Is Fenton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fenton scores better for retirees than 74% of Michigan towns and quieter than 40%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.6).
How much does a house cost in Fenton?
The median owner-occupied home in Fenton is valued at $354,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,548, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,508 a month.
What is the weather like in Fenton?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 48.8 inches of snow.
Does Fenton get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Fenton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on February 28, 2024. 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)