The Town FilesOntwa, Michigan
Township in Cass County · population 6,904 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $249,800
- Household income
- $61,241
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 44.9
Ontwa is a township of 6,904 people in Cass County, Michigan. The median home is worth $249,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Ontwa 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 Ontwa is worth $249,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $61,241, which is more affordable than 6% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $984 a month. 83.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ontwa | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $249,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $984 | $955 |
| Median household income | $61,241 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.0% | — |
Who lives in Ontwa
| People | Ontwa | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ontwa
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontwa since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 30, 1962 about 6.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 53 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 15, 2008.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 9 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 Cass County
Cass County had 9,373 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,894 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Ontwa itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Ontwa
- Jefferson, MI4.1 mi · 2,590 people · home $268,900
- Simonton Lake, IN5.0 mi · 4,710 people · home $266,800
- Granger, IN5.7 mi · 30,337 people · home $331,100
- Mason, MI6.3 mi · 2,841 people · home $205,300
- Milton, MI6.4 mi · 3,128 people · home $299,600
- Howard, MI7.3 mi · 6,275 people · home $200,000
- Elkhart, IN8.4 mi · 53,923 people · home $139,500
- Osceola, IN8.9 mi · 2,590 people · home $196,900
Ontwa questions
Is Ontwa, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ontwa scores better for retirees than 34% of Michigan towns and quieter than 50%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Ontwa?
The median owner-occupied home in Ontwa is valued at $249,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,241, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $984 a month.
What is the weather like in Ontwa?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 36.9 inches of snow.
Does Ontwa get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ontwa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 30, 1962. 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)