The Town FilesLowell, Michigan
City in Kent County · population 4,142 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $228,400
- Household income
- $72,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 66 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 35.7
Lowell is a city of 4,142 people in Kent County, Michigan. The median home is worth $228,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 87% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 83% of Michigan towns.
How Lowell 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 Lowell is worth $228,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $72,875, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,056 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lowell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $228,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,056 | $955 |
| Median household income | $72,875 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lowell
| People | Lowell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lowell
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 39.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 65.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 133 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lowell since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 1967 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 11, 1968.
Severe weather in Kent County since 1996
Kent County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Kent County
Kent County had 415,565 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,288 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Lowell itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Public schools in Lowell
6 public schools with 3,011 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,050 | 18.8 |
| Lowell Middle School | 6-8 | 775 | 18.5 |
| Cherry Creek Elementary School | 2-5 | 473 | 18.2 |
| Murray Lake Elementary | PK-5 | 427 | 19.4 |
| Bushnell Elementary School | PK-1 | 271 | 15.1 |
| Unity Alternative School | 9-12 | 15 | 15.0 |
Towns near Lowell
- Lowell, MI3.0 mi · 6,276 people · home $321,600
- Vergennes, MI3.5 mi · 4,741 people · home $392,300
- Boston, MI5.5 mi · 6,021 people · home $235,400
- Forest Hills, MI7.5 mi · 28,573 people · home $498,500
- Cascade, MI7.7 mi · 19,667 people · home $472,500
- Ada, MI7.8 mi · 14,388 people · home $544,700
- Bowne, MI8.0 mi · 3,289 people · home $360,500
- Grattan, MI9.9 mi · 3,809 people · home $355,800
Lowell questions
Is Lowell, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lowell scores better for retirees than 49% of Michigan towns and quieter than 18%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Lowell?
The median owner-occupied home in Lowell is valued at $228,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,875, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,056 a month.
What is the weather like in Lowell?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.4 inches of precipitation a year and 65.9 inches of snow.
Does Lowell get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lowell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 1967. 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)