The Town FilesMonitor, Michigan
Charter township in Bay County · population 10,687 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $207,300
- Household income
- $76,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 50.3
Monitor is a charter township of 10,687 people in Bay County, Michigan. The median home is worth $207,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 85% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 75% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 73% of Michigan towns.
How Monitor 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 Monitor is worth $207,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $76,563, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $901 a month. 90.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monitor | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $207,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $901 | $955 |
| Median household income | $76,563 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Monitor
| People | Monitor | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 10.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Monitor
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 139 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monitor since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 12, 1984 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 27, 2014.
Severe weather in Bay County since 1996
Bay County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4326: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Bay County
Bay County had 34,112 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,617 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Monitor itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Monitor
- Frankenlust, MI4.9 mi · 3,672 people · home $240,700
- Bay City, MI5.2 mi · 32,661 people · home $97,600
- Bangor, MI5.6 mi · 14,045 people · home $170,200
- Williams, MI6.2 mi · 5,058 people · home $178,300
- Kawkawlin, MI6.3 mi · 4,419 people · home $188,800
- Kochville, MI7.1 mi · 4,911 people · home $156,800
- Essexville, MI7.4 mi · 3,379 people · home $128,500
- Tittabawassee, MI8.2 mi · 10,606 people · home $276,000
Monitor questions
Is Monitor, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monitor scores better for retirees than 75% of Michigan towns and quieter than 63%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Monitor?
The median owner-occupied home in Monitor is valued at $207,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,563, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $901 a month.
What is the weather like in Monitor?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 49.0 inches of snow.
Does Monitor get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monitor since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 12, 1984. 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)