The Town FilesNorvell, Michigan
Township in Jackson County · population 2,800 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $278,600
- Household income
- $99,107
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 59.0
Norvell is a township of 2,800 people in Jackson County, Michigan. The median home is worth $278,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 94% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 84% of Michigan towns, quieter than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Norvell 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 Norvell is worth $278,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $99,107, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. 91.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norvell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $278,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $99,107 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.8% | — |
Who lives in Norvell
| People | Norvell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 8.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Norvell
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norvell since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on August 22, 1964 about 9.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 22, 2005.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 55,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,139 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Norvell itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Norvell
- Manchester, MI4.6 mi · 4,626 people · home $273,600
- Columbia, MI6.0 mi · 7,392 people · home $276,700
- Cambridge, MI7.4 mi · 5,722 people · home $275,700
- Napoleon, MI7.6 mi · 6,789 people · home $229,000
- Franklin, MI8.1 mi · 3,063 people · home $293,900
- Grass Lake, MI8.6 mi · 6,069 people · home $297,300
- Woodstock, MI10.1 mi · 3,608 people · home $229,800
- Michigan Center, MI10.6 mi · 4,609 people · home $167,100
Norvell questions
Is Norvell, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norvell scores better for retirees than 64% of Michigan towns and quieter than 80%. 32.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.0).
How much does a house cost in Norvell?
The median owner-occupied home in Norvell is valued at $278,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,107, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Norvell?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 30.5 inches of snow.
Does Norvell get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norvell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on August 22, 1964. 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)