The Town FilesRay, Michigan
Township in Macomb County · population 3,780 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $377,700
- Household income
- $117,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 48.9
Ray is a township of 3,780 people in Macomb County, Michigan. The median home is worth $377,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of Michigan towns, better for families than 92% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Ray 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 Ray is worth $377,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $117,917, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,259 a month. 86.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ray | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $377,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,259 | $955 |
| Median household income | $117,917 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ray
| People | Ray | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ray
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 35.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ray since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 8, 1964 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 11. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 12 deaths and 233 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 26, 1978.
Severe weather in Macomb County since 1996
Macomb County has been included in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Macomb County
Macomb County had 336,295 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,046 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Ray itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in Ray
1 public school with 585 students, about 18.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endeavour Elementary and Middle School | K-8 | 585 | 18.9 |
Towns near Ray
- Romeo, MI5.1 mi · 3,767 people · home $266,200
- Macomb, MI6.1 mi · 91,663 people · home $387,000
- Lenox, MI6.2 mi · 12,119 people · home $212,900
- Washington, MI6.4 mi · 28,165 people · home $408,400
- Armada, MI6.5 mi · 5,318 people · home $331,100
- New Haven, MI6.7 mi · 6,097 people · home $209,000
- Chesterfield, MI8.1 mi · 45,376 people · home $295,700
- Bruce, MI8.3 mi · 9,324 people · home $388,600
Ray questions
Is Ray, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ray scores better for retirees than 66% of Michigan towns and quieter than 45%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in Ray?
The median owner-occupied home in Ray is valued at $377,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $117,917, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,259 a month.
What is the weather like in Ray?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.9 inches of precipitation a year and 38.9 inches of snow.
Does Ray get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ray since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 8, 1964. 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)