The Town FilesFrankenmuth, Michigan
City in Saginaw County · population 4,987 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $300,500
- Household income
- $85,433
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 53.6
Frankenmuth is a city of 4,987 people in Saginaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $300,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 94% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Frankenmuth 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 Frankenmuth is worth $300,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $85,433, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $851 a month. 70.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Frankenmuth | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $300,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $851 | $955 |
| Median household income | $85,433 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Frankenmuth
| People | Frankenmuth | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Frankenmuth
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frankenmuth since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 21, 1996 about 0.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on September 2, 1984.
Severe weather in Saginaw County since 1996
Saginaw County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Saginaw County
Saginaw County had 79,478 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,049 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Frankenmuth itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Frankenmuth
3 public schools with 1,366 students, about 22.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frankenmuth High School | 9-12 | 520 | 22.6 |
| Lorenz C List School | PK-4 | 480 | 20.9 |
| EF Rittmueller Middle School | 5-8 | 366 | 24.4 |
Towns near Frankenmuth
- Birch Run, MI4.9 mi · 5,888 people · home $216,700
- Arbela, MI6.9 mi · 2,808 people · home $150,400
- Bridgeport, MI6.9 mi · 10,104 people · home $109,900
- Bridgeport, MI7.6 mi · 6,571 people · home $98,800
- Taymouth, MI8.1 mi · 4,065 people · home $208,000
- Vassar, MI8.5 mi · 2,727 people · home $143,200
- Denmark, MI8.6 mi · 2,741 people · home $166,300
- Buena Vista, MI10.0 mi · 5,855 people · home $62,000
Frankenmuth questions
Is Frankenmuth, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Frankenmuth scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 37%. 31.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.6).
How much does a house cost in Frankenmuth?
The median owner-occupied home in Frankenmuth is valued at $300,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $85,433, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $851 a month.
What is the weather like in Frankenmuth?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 43.3 inches of snow.
Does Frankenmuth get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Frankenmuth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 21, 1996. 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)