The Town FilesLake, Michigan
Township in Missaukee County · population 2,827 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $230,300
- Household income
- $72,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 56.5
Lake is a township of 2,827 people in Missaukee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $230,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Lake 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 Lake is worth $230,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $72,917, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 88.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $230,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $800 | $955 |
| Median household income | $72,917 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.9% | — |
Who lives in Lake
| People | Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lake
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 3, 1964 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 17, 2006.
Severe weather in Missaukee County since 1996
Missaukee County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, 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 |
| 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 Missaukee County
Missaukee County had 4,213 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,075 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Lake
- Haring, MI5.6 mi · 3,556 people · home $192,500
- Cadillac, MI8.2 mi · 10,371 people · home $134,300
- Paradise, MI21.7 mi · 4,952 people · home $265,800
- Houghton Lake, MI26.5 mi · 5,294 people · home $126,200
- Roscommon, MI27.1 mi · 4,397 people · home $137,700
- Blair, MI27.5 mi · 8,994 people · home $275,200
- East Bay, MI29.4 mi · 11,589 people · home $278,800
- Kalkaska, MI29.9 mi · 5,027 people · home $173,900
Lake questions
Is Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake scores better for retirees than 70% of Michigan towns and quieter than 60%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake is valued at $230,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,917, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 74.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 3, 1964. 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)