The Town FilesOscoda, Michigan
Charter township in Iosco County · population 7,152 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,900
- Household income
- $43,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 50.6
Oscoda is a charter township of 7,152 people in Iosco County, Michigan. The median home is worth $122,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Oscoda 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 Oscoda is worth $122,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $43,125, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $697 a month. 76.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oscoda | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $697 | $955 |
| Median household income | $43,125 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 35.2% | — |
Who lives in Oscoda
| People | Oscoda | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 2.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Oscoda
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 10.5°F. About 32.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oscoda since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 27, 1991 about 7.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 27, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 30, 2004.
Severe weather in Iosco County since 1996
Iosco County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Iosco County
Iosco County had 7,724 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,332 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Oscoda itself the ACS puts it at 9.9%.
Public schools in Oscoda
2 public schools with 1,207 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson Elementary School | PK-6 | 722 | 17.2 |
| Oscoda Area High School | 7-12 | 485 | 18.0 |
Towns near Oscoda
- Plainfield, MI12.0 mi · 3,350 people · home $174,300
- East Tawas, MI12.3 mi · 2,663 people · home $130,200
Oscoda questions
Is Oscoda, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oscoda scores better for retirees than 66% of Michigan towns and quieter than 58%. 31.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Oscoda?
The median owner-occupied home in Oscoda is valued at $122,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,125, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $697 a month.
What is the weather like in Oscoda?
July highs average 80.7°F and January lows 10.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.7 inches of precipitation a year and 45.2 inches of snow.
Does Oscoda get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oscoda since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 27, 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)