The Town FilesOkemos, Michigan
Community in Ingham County · population 25,121 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $359,200
- Household income
- $102,612
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 34.0
Okemos is a community of 25,121 people in Ingham County, Michigan. The median home is worth $359,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 97% of Michigan towns, better transit than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Okemos 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 Okemos is worth $359,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $102,612, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,298 a month. 59.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Okemos | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $359,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,298 | $955 |
| Median household income | $102,612 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Okemos
| People | Okemos | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 72.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 22.1% | — |
| Work from home | 23.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Okemos
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
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Okemos since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 24, 2023 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 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 Okemos itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Okemos
7 public schools with 4,631 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okemos High School | 9-12 | 1,519 | 19.5 |
| Kinawa School | 5-6 | 726 | 15.8 |
| Chippewa Middle School | 6-8 | 679 | 15.1 |
| Bennett Woods Elementary School | PK-4 | 486 | 16.8 |
| Cornell Elementary School | K-4 | 453 | 16.8 |
| Hiawatha Elementary School | K-4 | 445 | 15.9 |
| Okemos Public MontessoriCentral | PK-4 | 323 | 16.2 |
Towns near Okemos
- Meridian, MI1.2 mi · 43,916 people · home $331,100
- Haslett, MI3.1 mi · 19,670 people · home $286,100
- East Lansing, MI4.4 mi · 47,741 people · home $270,800
- Alaiedon, MI5.3 mi · 2,910 people · home $290,900
- Williamstown, MI5.5 mi · 5,286 people · home $358,700
- Williamston, MI6.9 mi · 3,819 people · home $226,800
- Lansing, MI7.5 mi · 112,644 people · home $128,700
- Holt, MI7.5 mi · 25,625 people · home $226,400
Okemos questions
Is Okemos, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Okemos scores better for retirees than 36% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.0).
How much does a house cost in Okemos?
The median owner-occupied home in Okemos is valued at $359,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $102,612, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,298 a month.
What is the weather like in Okemos?
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 Okemos get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Okemos 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)