The Town FilesMason, Michigan
City in Ingham County · population 8,283 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,000
- Household income
- $79,117
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 40.7
Mason is a city of 8,283 people in Ingham County, Michigan. The median home is worth $198,000, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 89% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 88% of Michigan towns.
How Mason 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 Mason is worth $198,000, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $79,117, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,164 a month. 68.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mason | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,164 | $955 |
| Median household income | $79,117 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mason
| People | Mason | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Mason
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mason since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 24, 2023 about 8.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 31 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 21, 2022.
Severe weather in Ingham County since 1996
Ingham County has been included in 12 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 |
| 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 Ingham County
Ingham County had 155,500 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,532 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Mason itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Mason
10 public schools with 3,421 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mason High School | 9-12 | 1,009 | 20.2 |
| Mason Middle School | 6-8 | 752 | 16.7 |
| Steele Street Elementary School | PK-5 | 504 | 16.3 |
| North Aurelius Elementary School | PK-5 | 410 | 18.6 |
| Alaiedon Elementary School | PK-5 | 389 | 16.9 |
| James C Harvey Education Center | PK-K | 241 | 9.6 |
| Heartwood School | PK-12 | 77 | 4.8 |
| North Star School | K-12 | 24 | 4.8 |
| SAIL Skills for Adult Independent Living | 9-12 | 15 | 15.0 |
| Wilson Talent Center | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Mason
- Vevay, MI3.1 mi · 3,606 people · home $268,600
- Alaiedon, MI3.7 mi · 2,910 people · home $290,900
- Delhi, MI5.6 mi · 27,710 people · home $233,800
- Aurelius, MI5.6 mi · 4,354 people · home $261,800
- Holt, MI6.2 mi · 25,625 people · home $226,400
- Okemos, MI9.0 mi · 25,121 people · home $359,200
- Onondaga, MI9.1 mi · 2,997 people · home $267,200
- Meridian, MI10.1 mi · 43,916 people · home $331,100
Mason questions
Is Mason, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mason scores better for retirees than 81% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Mason?
The median owner-occupied home in Mason is valued at $198,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,117, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,164 a month.
What is the weather like in Mason?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Mason get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mason since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 24, 2023. 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)