The Town FilesMancelona, Michigan
Township in Antrim County · population 4,311 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,900
- Household income
- $65,412
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 137 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 39.3
Mancelona is a township of 4,311 people in Antrim County, Michigan. The median home is worth $159,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Mancelona 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 Mancelona is worth $159,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $65,412, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $868 a month. 81.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mancelona | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $868 | $955 |
| Median household income | $65,412 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.7% | — |
Who lives in Mancelona
| People | Mancelona | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 0.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Mancelona
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 136.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mancelona since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 20, 2022 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Antrim County since 1996
Antrim 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 |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Antrim County
Antrim County had 5,128 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,968 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Mancelona itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in Mancelona
1 public school with 176 students, about 19.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Central Academy Campus (charter) | K-12 | 176 | 19.6 |
Towns near Mancelona
- Hayes, MI9.1 mi · 2,725 people · home $222,300
- Otsego Lake, MI15.2 mi · 2,857 people · home $218,400
- Kalkaska, MI16.1 mi · 5,027 people · home $173,900
- Gaylord, MI16.9 mi · 4,286 people · home $192,800
- Bagley, MI17.2 mi · 5,867 people · home $234,300
- Livingston, MI19.4 mi · 2,652 people · home $220,200
- Elk Rapids, MI20.5 mi · 2,521 people · home $401,100
- Boyne City, MI22.1 mi · 3,816 people · home $249,000
Mancelona questions
Is Mancelona, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mancelona scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 36%. 18.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Mancelona?
The median owner-occupied home in Mancelona is valued at $159,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,412, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $868 a month.
What is the weather like in Mancelona?
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 136.6 inches of snow.
Does Mancelona get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mancelona since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022. 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)