The Town FilesHope, Michigan
Township in Barry County · population 3,154 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,300
- Household income
- $99,427
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 57.0
Hope is a township of 3,154 people in Barry County, Michigan. The median home is worth $232,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 84% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 84% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Hope 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 Hope is worth $232,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $99,427, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. 98.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hope | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $99,427 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.7% | — |
Who lives in Hope
| People | Hope | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 41.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Hope
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 39.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hope since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 11, 1965 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Barry County since 1996
Barry County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Barry County
Barry County had 13,236 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,220 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Hope itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Towns near Hope
- Rutland, MI5.8 mi · 4,136 people · home $273,600
- Orangeville, MI5.9 mi · 3,398 people · home $297,600
- Barry, MI6.1 mi · 3,417 people · home $344,100
- Hastings, MI7.7 mi · 7,514 people · home $174,500
- Hastings, MI8.2 mi · 3,013 people · home $242,200
- Prairieville, MI8.3 mi · 3,334 people · home $406,900
- Johnstown, MI8.5 mi · 2,841 people · home $216,400
- Yankee Springs, MI8.7 mi · 5,322 people · home $373,900
Hope questions
Is Hope, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hope scores better for retirees than 64% of Michigan towns and quieter than 84%. 26.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.0).
How much does a house cost in Hope?
The median owner-occupied home in Hope is valued at $232,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,427, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Hope?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.6 inches of precipitation a year and 68.0 inches of snow.
Does Hope get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hope since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 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)