The Town FilesPorter, Michigan
Township in Van Buren County · population 2,568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $306,800
- Household income
- $81,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 72 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 54.8
Porter is a township of 2,568 people in Van Buren County, Michigan. The median home is worth $306,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 89% of Michigan towns, quieter than 88% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Porter 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 Porter is worth $306,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $81,438, which is more affordable than 11% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $958 a month. 87.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Porter | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $306,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $958 | $955 |
| Median household income | $81,438 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.1% | — |
Who lives in Porter
| People | Porter | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Porter
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porter since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 6, 2024 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Van Buren County since 1996
Van Buren County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Van Buren County
Van Buren County had 21,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,293 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Porter itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Porter
- Decatur, MI5.6 mi · 3,575 people · home $158,000
- Antwerp, MI5.8 mi · 13,425 people · home $243,400
- Mattawan, MI6.7 mi · 2,550 people · home $181,600
- Paw Paw, MI7.6 mi · 3,362 people · home $148,200
- Texas, MI8.3 mi · 17,691 people · home $415,100
- Paw Paw, MI8.5 mi · 6,881 people · home $197,400
- Almena, MI11.4 mi · 5,308 people · home $270,000
- Schoolcraft, MI11.7 mi · 9,183 people · home $258,200
Porter questions
Is Porter, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Porter scores better for retirees than 80% of Michigan towns and quieter than 88%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.8).
How much does a house cost in Porter?
The median owner-occupied home in Porter is valued at $306,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,438, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $958 a month.
What is the weather like in Porter?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 72.2 inches of snow.
Does Porter get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 6, 2024. 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)