The Town FilesGrand Ledge, Michigan
City in Eaton County · population 7,784 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $194,000
- Household income
- $68,980
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 44.7
Grand Ledge is a city of 7,784 people in Eaton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $194,000, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Michigan towns, hipper than 92% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Grand Ledge 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 Grand Ledge is worth $194,000, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $68,980, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $982 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grand Ledge | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $194,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $982 | $955 |
| Median household income | $68,980 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Grand Ledge
| People | Grand Ledge | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Grand Ledge
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Ledge since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Eaton County since 1996
Eaton County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Eaton County
Eaton County had 44,501 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,862 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Grand Ledge itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Grand Ledge
7 public schools with 4,407 students, about 19.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Ledge High School | 9-12 | 1,683 | 20.5 |
| Kenneth T Beagle Middle School | 7-8 | 840 | 21.0 |
| Leon W Hayes Intermediate School | 5-6 | 775 | 18.5 |
| Willow Ridge Elementary School | K-4 | 534 | 18.4 |
| TC Holbrook Elementary School | K-4 | 457 | 15.8 |
| Relevant Academy of Eaton County (charter) | 9-12 | 89 | 22.3 |
| Strange School | K-6 | 29 | 9.7 |
Towns near Grand Ledge
- Oneida, MI3.6 mi · 3,986 people · home $261,000
- Delta, MI4.6 mi · 33,119 people · home $252,700
- Eagle, MI4.8 mi · 2,776 people · home $257,400
- Waverly, MI5.7 mi · 23,812 people · home $234,600
- Watertown, MI6.4 mi · 5,563 people · home $288,700
- Benton, MI7.7 mi · 2,766 people · home $275,000
- Lansing, MI8.0 mi · 8,143 people · home $146,200
- Potterville, MI8.6 mi · 3,055 people · home $154,500
Grand Ledge questions
Is Grand Ledge, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grand Ledge scores better for retirees than 77% of Michigan towns and quieter than 17%. 23.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Grand Ledge?
The median owner-occupied home in Grand Ledge is valued at $194,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,980, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $982 a month.
What is the weather like in Grand Ledge?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37.3 inches of snow.
Does Grand Ledge get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grand Ledge 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)