The Town FilesMuskegon, Michigan
Charter township in Muskegon County · population 17,596 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $149,900
- Household income
- $54,962
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 87 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 38.9
Muskegon is a charter township of 17,596 people in Muskegon County, Michigan. The median home is worth $149,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 85% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 83% of Michigan towns.
How Muskegon 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 is worth $149,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $54,962, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $897 a month. 84.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Muskegon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $149,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $897 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,962 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Muskegon
| People | Muskegon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Muskegon
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
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muskegon since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 11, 2001 about 4.9 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 21 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 itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Muskegon
20 public schools with 7,849 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReethsPuffer High School | 9-12 | 1,142 | 19.4 |
| Muskegon Middle School | 6-8 | 691 | 20.9 |
| Timberland Academy (charter) | K-8 | 678 | 18.8 |
| Cardinal Elementary | K-9 | 644 | 14.6 |
| ReethsPuffer Elementary School | PK-4 | 597 | 16.6 |
| Orchard View High School | 9-12 | 551 | 17.2 |
| Oakridge Lower Elementary School | PK-7 | 541 | 15.0 |
| Oakridge High School | 9-12 | 537 | 17.9 |
| ReethsPuffer Intermediate Sch | 5-6 | 530 | 18.3 |
| Orchard View Middle School | 5-10 | 454 | 15.1 |
| Oakridge Upper Elementary School | 1-6 | 445 | 19.3 |
| Orchard View Early Elementary | PK-1 | 371 | 16.1 |
Towns near Muskegon
- North Muskegon, MI3.7 mi · 4,093 people · home $264,200
- Muskegon, MI3.8 mi · 38,318 people · home $142,300
- Wolf Lake, MI4.5 mi · 5,034 people · home $131,400
- Muskegon Heights, MI4.6 mi · 9,917 people · home $68,000
- Roosevelt Park, MI5.7 mi · 4,172 people · home $193,300
- Egelston, MI5.9 mi · 11,128 people · home $160,400
- Laketon, MI6.0 mi · 7,626 people · home $266,800
- Dalton, MI6.0 mi · 9,427 people · home $210,800
Muskegon questions
Is Muskegon, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Muskegon scores better for retirees than 6% of Michigan towns and quieter than 25%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Muskegon?
The median owner-occupied home in Muskegon is valued at $149,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,962, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $897 a month.
What is the weather like in Muskegon?
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 get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Muskegon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 11, 2001. 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)