The Town FilesManistique, Michigan
City in Schoolcraft County · population 2,828 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $93,300
- Household income
- $38,446
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 73°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 47.3
Manistique is a city of 2,828 people in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. The median home is worth $93,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 93% of Michigan towns, better transit than 91% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Manistique 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 Manistique is worth $93,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $38,446, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $665 a month. 78.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manistique | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $93,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $665 | $955 |
| Median household income | $38,446 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.7% | — |
Who lives in Manistique
| People | Manistique | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Manistique
July highs average 73.0°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manistique since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1987 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 27, 1990.
Severe weather in Schoolcraft County since 1996
Schoolcraft County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| May 10, 1994 | Freezing | DR-1028: Severe Deep Freeze |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Schoolcraft County
Schoolcraft County had 2,702 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,979 a year. Unemployment was 7.3% in 2023; in Manistique itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Manistique
3 public schools with 708 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manistique Middle and High School | 6-12 | 402 | 19.1 |
| Emerald Elementary School | PK-5 | 284 | 14.9 |
| Jack Reque Alternative High School | 9-12 | 22 | 22.0 |
Manistique questions
Is Manistique, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manistique scores better for retirees than 46% of Michigan towns and quieter than 58%. 22.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in Manistique?
The median owner-occupied home in Manistique is valued at $93,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,446, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $665 a month.
What is the weather like in Manistique?
July highs average 73.0°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Manistique get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manistique since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1987. 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)