The Town FilesJamestown, Michigan
Charter township in Ottawa County · population 9,630 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $445,400
- Household income
- $119,676
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.6
Jamestown is a charter township of 9,630 people in Ottawa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $445,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 94% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 93% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Michigan towns.
How Jamestown 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 Jamestown is worth $445,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $119,676, which is more affordable than 12% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,302 a month. 86.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jamestown | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $445,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,302 | $955 |
| Median household income | $119,676 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jamestown
| People | Jamestown | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 48.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Jamestown
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 19 deaths and 393 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 10, 2026.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 131,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,813 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Jamestown itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Public schools in Jamestown
1 public school with 321 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamestown Upper Elementary School | 3-5 | 321 | 16.9 |
Towns near Jamestown
- Hudsonville, MI4.2 mi · 7,629 people · home $285,700
- Byron Center, MI5.6 mi · 7,431 people · home $384,400
- Byron, MI5.7 mi · 26,927 people · home $339,700
- Salem, MI6.0 mi · 5,156 people · home $307,500
- Zeeland, MI6.2 mi · 12,008 people · home $357,500
- Jenison, MI6.7 mi · 16,640 people · home $281,600
- Georgetown, MI6.9 mi · 54,091 people · home $336,400
- Grandville, MI7.8 mi · 16,083 people · home $271,300
Jamestown questions
Is Jamestown, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jamestown scores better for retirees than 30% of Michigan towns and quieter than 19%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Jamestown?
The median owner-occupied home in Jamestown is valued at $445,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $119,676, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $1,302 a month.
What is the weather like in Jamestown?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 76.1 inches of snow.
Does Jamestown get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jamestown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. 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)