The Town FilesPlainfield, Michigan
Township in Iosco County · population 3,350 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,300
- Household income
- $52,035
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 59.9
Plainfield is a township of 3,350 people in Iosco County, Michigan. The median home is worth $174,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Michigan towns, quieter than 89% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Plainfield 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 Plainfield is worth $174,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $52,035, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $830 a month. 87.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plainfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $830 | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,035 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 53.4% | — |
Who lives in Plainfield
| People | Plainfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 12.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Plainfield
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 41.3 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
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainfield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 27, 1991 about 1.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 17, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on October 17, 2016.
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 Plainfield itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Plainfield
1 public school with 359 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hale Area School | K-12 | 359 | 14.4 |
Towns near Plainfield
- Oscoda, MI12.0 mi · 7,152 people · home $122,900
- East Tawas, MI17.0 mi · 2,663 people · home $130,200
- Skidway Lake, MI19.9 mi · 3,082 people · home $59,100
- Mills, MI21.0 mi · 3,973 people · home $81,800
- West Branch, MI21.3 mi · 2,567 people · home $171,600
- Big Creek, MI26.6 mi · 2,604 people · home $111,700
Plainfield questions
Is Plainfield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plainfield scores better for retirees than 82% of Michigan towns and quieter than 89%. 38.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.9).
How much does a house cost in Plainfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Plainfield is valued at $174,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,035, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $830 a month.
What is the weather like in Plainfield?
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 41.3 inches of snow.
Does Plainfield get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainfield 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)