The Town FilesLake Orion, Michigan
Village in Oakland County · population 2,876 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $376,600
- Household income
- $101,318
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.5
Lake Orion is a village of 2,876 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $376,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 100% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 99% of Michigan towns.
How Lake Orion 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 Orion is worth $376,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $101,318, which is more affordable than 12% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Orion | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $376,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $798 | $955 |
| Median household income | $101,318 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.7% | — |
Who lives in Lake Orion
| People | Lake Orion | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 23.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lake Orion
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Orion since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 8, 1964 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 21, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 2009.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Lake Orion itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Lake Orion
12 public schools with 6,171 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Orion Community High School | 9-12 | 2,097 | 17.9 |
| Waldon Middle School | 6-8 | 540 | 15.0 |
| Paint Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | 532 | 16.1 |
| Orion Oaks Elementary School | PK-5 | 520 | 15.8 |
| Webber School | PK-5 | 491 | 19.6 |
| Scripps Middle School | 6-8 | 482 | 13.4 |
| Carpenter Elem School | K-5 | 470 | 18.8 |
| Stadium Drive Elementary School | K-5 | 465 | 18.6 |
| Blanche Sims Elementary School | K-5 | 438 | 16.8 |
| Learning Options High School | 9-12 | 82 | 4.1 |
| Pine Tree Center | K-12 | 54 | 6.0 |
| Community Ed Resource Center | K-12 | — | — |
Towns near Lake Orion
- Orion, MI2.1 mi · 38,206 people · home $369,900
- Oxford, MI2.7 mi · 3,492 people · home $347,800
- Oxford, MI4.9 mi · 22,419 people · home $369,700
- Oakland, MI5.0 mi · 20,067 people · home $588,900
- Addison, MI6.0 mi · 6,256 people · home $416,700
- Auburn Hills, MI7.5 mi · 24,360 people · home $245,000
- Independence, MI7.9 mi · 36,686 people · home $381,700
- Brandon, MI8.8 mi · 15,384 people · home $331,000
Lake Orion questions
Is Lake Orion, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Orion scores better for retirees than 95% of Michigan towns and quieter than 14%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake Orion?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Orion is valued at $376,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,318, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Orion?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 43.4 inches of snow.
Does Lake Orion get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Orion since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 8, 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)