The Town FilesPlainwell, Michigan
City in Allegan County · population 3,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $220,500
- Household income
- $66,525
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 85 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.4
Plainwell is a city of 3,788 people in Allegan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $220,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 80% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Plainwell 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 Plainwell is worth $220,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $66,525, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $900 a month. 69.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plainwell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $900 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,525 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Plainwell
| People | Plainwell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Plainwell
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 85.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainwell since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 11, 1965 about 5.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 29, 1987.
Severe weather in Allegan County since 1996
Allegan County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allegan County
Allegan County had 41,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,226 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Plainwell itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Plainwell
5 public schools with 2,342 students, about 17.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainwell High School | 9-12 | 813 | 19.8 |
| Plainwell Middle School | 6-8 | 587 | 17.3 |
| Starr Elementary School | PK-5 | 451 | 16.1 |
| Gilkey Elementary School | PK-5 | 399 | 16.0 |
| Renaissance High School | 9-12 | 92 | 30.7 |
Towns near Plainwell
- Gun Plain, MI2.9 mi · 6,148 people · home $264,000
- Otsego, MI3.0 mi · 4,120 people · home $160,500
- Otsego, MI5.0 mi · 5,903 people · home $265,000
- Alamo, MI5.2 mi · 3,805 people · home $258,500
- Cooper, MI5.3 mi · 10,418 people · home $236,900
- Martin, MI7.3 mi · 2,723 people · home $205,700
- Prairieville, MI8.3 mi · 3,334 people · home $406,900
- Kalamazoo, MI9.1 mi · 22,777 people · home $180,200
Plainwell questions
Is Plainwell, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plainwell scores better for retirees than 29% of Michigan towns and quieter than 29%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Plainwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Plainwell is valued at $220,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,525, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $900 a month.
What is the weather like in Plainwell?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 85.0 inches of snow.
Does Plainwell get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plainwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 11, 1965. 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)