The Town FilesGenesee, Michigan
Charter township in Genesee County · population 20,581 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,400
- Household income
- $57,406
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 40 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 41.0
Genesee is a charter township of 20,581 people in Genesee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $125,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 79% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 77% of Michigan towns, better transit than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Genesee 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 Genesee is worth $125,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $57,406, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $924 a month. 76.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Genesee | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $924 | $955 |
| Median household income | $57,406 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Genesee
| People | Genesee | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Genesee
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.9°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 159 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Genesee since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1953 about 1.0 miles from the town center and killed 116. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 120 deaths and 965 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 14, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 66 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2023.
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 Genesee itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Public schools in Genesee
2 public schools with 685 students, about 21.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haas Elementary School | PK-6 | 360 | 20.0 |
| Genesee High School | 7-12 | 325 | 23.2 |
Towns near Genesee
- Beecher, MI3.8 mi · 8,840 people · home $51,500
- Mount Morris, MI3.8 mi · 3,170 people · home $86,600
- Thetford, MI5.3 mi · 6,640 people · home $203,900
- Richfield, MI5.3 mi · 8,991 people · home $219,800
- Flint, MI5.8 mi · 81,252 people · home $53,500
- Mount Morris, MI6.5 mi · 20,024 people · home $95,300
- Burton, MI6.6 mi · 29,715 people · home $141,600
- Davison, MI7.1 mi · 5,143 people · home $181,200
Genesee questions
Is Genesee, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Genesee scores better for retirees than 6% of Michigan towns and quieter than 19%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Genesee?
The median owner-occupied home in Genesee is valued at $125,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,406, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $924 a month.
What is the weather like in Genesee?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40.4 inches of snow.
Does Genesee get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Genesee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1953. 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)