The Town FilesImlay City, Michigan
City in Lapeer County · population 3,703 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,000
- Household income
- $59,911
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 35.9
Imlay City is a city of 3,703 people in Lapeer County, Michigan. The median home is worth $150,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 95% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 93% of Michigan towns, hipper than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Imlay City 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 Imlay City is worth $150,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $59,911, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $895 a month. 54.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Imlay City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $895 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,911 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 54.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Imlay City
| People | Imlay City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Imlay City
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.0 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
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Imlay City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 8, 1953 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 23, 1999.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Lapeer County since 1996
Lapeer County has been included in 11 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 |
| 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 Lapeer County
Lapeer County had 21,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,778 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Imlay City itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Imlay City
5 public schools with 1,723 students, about 20.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imlay City High School | 9-12 | 518 | 25.9 |
| Borland Elementary School | 3-5 | 391 | 19.6 |
| Imlay City Middle School | 6-8 | 388 | 20.4 |
| Weston Elementary School | PK-2 | 376 | 15.0 |
| Venture High School | 9-12 | 50 | — |
Towns near Imlay City
- Imlay, MI1.7 mi · 3,115 people · home $298,100
- Attica, MI4.3 mi · 4,706 people · home $246,300
- Almont, MI6.3 mi · 6,961 people · home $297,300
- Almont, MI6.9 mi · 2,846 people · home $246,500
- Dryden, MI7.4 mi · 4,799 people · home $302,200
- Mussey, MI7.4 mi · 4,234 people · home $216,100
- Arcadia, MI7.6 mi · 3,148 people · home $235,400
- Lapeer, MI9.8 mi · 4,956 people · home $254,100
Imlay City questions
Is Imlay City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Imlay City scores better for retirees than 7% of Michigan towns and quieter than 10%. 13.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.9).
How much does a house cost in Imlay City?
The median owner-occupied home in Imlay City is valued at $150,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,911, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $895 a month.
What is the weather like in Imlay City?
July highs average 82.4°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 39.0 inches of snow.
Does Imlay City get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Imlay City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)