The Town FilesHillsdale, Michigan
City in Hillsdale County · population 8,036 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,900
- Household income
- $51,038
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 29.6
Hillsdale is a city of 8,036 people in Hillsdale County, Michigan. The median home is worth $130,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 98% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 98% of Michigan towns, better transit than 94% of Michigan towns.
How Hillsdale 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 Hillsdale is worth $130,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $51,038, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $812 a month. 53.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsdale | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $812 | $955 |
| Median household income | $51,038 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 53.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Hillsdale
| People | Hillsdale | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 14.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Hillsdale
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsdale 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 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 126 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 7, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 19, 2021.
Severe weather in Hillsdale County since 1996
Hillsdale County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County had 12,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,536 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Hillsdale itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Hillsdale
8 public schools with 1,353 students, about 12.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gier Elementary School | K-4 | 436 | 16.8 |
| Hillsdale High School | 9-12 | 385 | 18.3 |
| Davis Middle School | 5-8 | 368 | 17.5 |
| Hillsdale Preparatory School (charter) | K-8 | 54 | 10.8 |
| Greenfield School | PK-12 | 44 | 2.4 |
| Horizon Alternative School | 9-12 | 36 | — |
| Bailey Early Childhood Center | PK-K | 30 | 4.3 |
| Hillsdale Area Career Center | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Hillsdale
- Cambria, MI5.6 mi · 2,552 people · home $190,500
- Jefferson, MI7.3 mi · 3,016 people · home $148,400
- Quincy, MI12.7 mi · 4,108 people · home $161,000
- Somerset, MI13.2 mi · 4,588 people · home $251,100
- Hanover, MI14.6 mi · 3,662 people · home $227,800
- Homer, MI14.9 mi · 2,896 people · home $144,400
- Liberty, MI17.0 mi · 3,059 people · home $249,900
- Coldwater, MI17.3 mi · 3,406 people · home $169,300
Hillsdale questions
Is Hillsdale, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsdale scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 6%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.6).
How much does a house cost in Hillsdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsdale is valued at $130,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,038, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $812 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsdale?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 44.1 inches of snow.
Does Hillsdale get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsdale 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)