The Town FilesSkidway Lake, Michigan
Community in Ogemaw County · population 3,082 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $59,100
- Household income
- $39,265
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.1
Skidway Lake is a community of 3,082 people in Ogemaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $59,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900).
How Skidway Lake 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 Skidway Lake is worth $59,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.5 times the median household income of $39,265, which is more affordable than 99% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $699 a month. 86.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Skidway Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $59,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $699 | $955 |
| Median household income | $39,265 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 38.4% | — |
Who lives in Skidway Lake
| People | Skidway Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 37.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Skidway Lake
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Skidway Lake 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 9.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 22 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 12, 2000.
Severe weather in Ogemaw County since 1996
Ogemaw County has been included in 7 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 |
| 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 |
| January 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
Jobs and pay in Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County had 6,008 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,697 a year. Unemployment was 6.6% in 2023; in Skidway Lake itself the ACS puts it at 15.2%.
Towns near Skidway Lake
- Mills, MI1.5 mi · 3,973 people · home $81,800
- West Branch, MI9.4 mi · 2,567 people · home $171,600
- Plainfield, MI19.9 mi · 3,350 people · home $174,300
- St. Helen, MI21.5 mi · 2,735 people · home $95,600
- Richfield, MI22.6 mi · 3,545 people · home $110,200
- Gladwin, MI27.1 mi · 3,069 people · home $126,900
- East Tawas, MI28.0 mi · 2,663 people · home $130,200
- Fraser, MI28.8 mi · 2,994 people · home $163,100
Skidway Lake questions
Is Skidway Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Skidway Lake scores better for retirees than 16% of Michigan towns and quieter than 40%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Skidway Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Skidway Lake is valued at $59,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $39,265, so homes cost about 1.5 times income. Median rent is $699 a month.
What is the weather like in Skidway Lake?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 53.0 inches of snow.
Does Skidway Lake get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Skidway Lake 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)