The Town FilesSouth Lyon, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 11,746 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $294,600
- Household income
- $92,467
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 23
- Median age
- 41.8
South Lyon is a city of 11,746 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $294,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 97% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 94% of Michigan towns.
How South Lyon 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 South Lyon is worth $294,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $92,467, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,310 a month. 81.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Lyon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $294,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,310 | $955 |
| Median household income | $92,467 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Lyon
| People | South Lyon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in South Lyon
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Lyon since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on July 4, 1957 about 4.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 48 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 27, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 4, 2017.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 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 Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in South Lyon itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in South Lyon
11 public schools with 7,463 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Lyon High School | 9-12 | 1,253 | 16.1 |
| South Lyon East High School | 9-12 | 1,181 | 18.7 |
| Millennium Middle School | 6-8 | 1,043 | 20.1 |
| Centennial Middle School | 6-8 | 899 | 18.3 |
| Sharon J Hardy Elementary School | K-5 | 580 | 16.1 |
| William A Pearson Elementary | K-5 | 553 | 18.4 |
| Kent Lake Elementary School | K-5 | 524 | 16.4 |
| Frank E Bartlett School | PK-5 | 480 | 17.8 |
| Sayre Elementary School | K-5 | 475 | 18.3 |
| William A Brummer Elementary School | K-5 | 475 | 17.6 |
| SPECIAL EDUCATION | PK-12 | — | — |
Towns near South Lyon
- Lyon, MI3.0 mi · 23,271 people · home $473,300
- Green Oak, MI3.9 mi · 19,539 people · home $390,800
- Salem, MI5.5 mi · 7,018 people · home $430,400
- Whitmore Lake, MI5.8 mi · 7,584 people · home $287,700
- Northfield, MI6.3 mi · 8,550 people · home $315,400
- Wixom, MI7.6 mi · 17,193 people · home $365,200
- Milford, MI7.7 mi · 17,090 people · home $425,400
- Brighton, MI7.7 mi · 19,144 people · home $422,400
South Lyon questions
Is South Lyon, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Lyon scores better for retirees than 51% of Michigan towns and quieter than 11%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in South Lyon?
The median owner-occupied home in South Lyon is valued at $294,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,467, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,310 a month.
What is the weather like in South Lyon?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 50.4 inches of snow.
Does South Lyon get tornadoes?
23 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Lyon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on July 4, 1957. 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)