The Town FilesMuskegon Heights, Michigan
City in Muskegon County · population 9,917 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,000
- Household income
- $35,239
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 87 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 32.7
Muskegon Heights is a city of 9,917 people in Muskegon County, Michigan. The median home is worth $68,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 97% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns.
- #4 in The 25 Most Walkable Historic Small Towns in Michigan
- #5 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Michigan
- #7 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Cheapest Homes
- #7 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Mildest Winters
- #12 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Oldest Homes
- #18 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Michigan
How Muskegon Heights 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 Muskegon Heights is worth $68,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $35,239, which is more affordable than 96% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $889 a month. 44.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Muskegon Heights | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $889 | $955 |
| Median household income | $35,239 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 44.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Muskegon Heights
| People | Muskegon Heights | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 30.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Muskegon Heights
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 20.7°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 87.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muskegon Heights since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 30, 1991 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 11, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 13, 1956.
Severe weather in Muskegon County since 1996
Muskegon County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: 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 Muskegon County
Muskegon County had 63,475 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,204 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Muskegon Heights itself the ACS puts it at 14.7%.
Towns near Muskegon Heights
- Roosevelt Park, MI1.7 mi · 4,172 people · home $193,300
- Muskegon, MI1.9 mi · 38,318 people · home $142,300
- Norton Shores, MI2.3 mi · 25,030 people · home $234,800
- North Muskegon, MI3.8 mi · 4,093 people · home $264,200
- Muskegon, MI4.6 mi · 17,596 people · home $149,900
- Laketon, MI6.1 mi · 7,626 people · home $266,800
- Fruitport, MI6.3 mi · 14,575 people · home $226,800
- Wolf Lake, MI7.1 mi · 5,034 people · home $131,400
Muskegon Heights questions
Is Muskegon Heights, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Muskegon Heights scores better for retirees than 1% of Michigan towns and quieter than 2%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Muskegon Heights?
The median owner-occupied home in Muskegon Heights is valued at $68,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $35,239, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $889 a month.
What is the weather like in Muskegon Heights?
July highs average 81.6°F and January lows 20.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 87.2 inches of snow.
Does Muskegon Heights get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muskegon Heights since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 30, 1991. 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)