The Town FilesPickford, Michigan
Township in Chippewa County · population 2,791 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,400
- Household income
- $99,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 101 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 39.6
Pickford is a township of 2,791 people in Chippewa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $167,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Michigan towns, better for families than 83% of Michigan towns.
- #1 in The 10 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Michigan
- #5 in The 24 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
- #14 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Michigan
- #19 in The 25 Best Vacation-Home Small Towns in Michigan
- #23 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #25 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
How Pickford 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 Pickford is worth $167,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $99,688, which is more affordable than 98% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $730 a month. 93.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pickford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $730 | $955 |
| Median household income | $99,688 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.1% | — |
Who lives in Pickford
| People | Pickford | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Pickford
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 6.5°F. About 34.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 100.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Pickford since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 11, 2021 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 11, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on March 14, 2025.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, hurricane.
| 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 |
| May 10, 1994 | Freezing | DR-1028: Severe Deep Freeze |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 12,793 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,748 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Pickford itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Pickford
1 public school with 433 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickford Public Schools | PK-12 | 433 | 14.4 |
Towns near Pickford
- Kincheloe, MI8.7 mi · 2,587 people · home $110,700
- Soo, MI10.3 mi · 2,966 people · home $241,200
- Kinross, MI18.4 mi · 6,139 people · home $127,300
- Sault Ste. Marie, MI20.9 mi · 13,337 people · home $139,400
Pickford questions
Is Pickford, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pickford scores better for retirees than 70% of Michigan towns and quieter than 81%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Pickford?
The median owner-occupied home in Pickford is valued at $167,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $99,688, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $730 a month.
What is the weather like in Pickford?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 6.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.1 inches of precipitation a year and 100.8 inches of snow.
Does Pickford get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Pickford since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 11, 2021. 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)