The Town FilesTemperance, Michigan
Community in Monroe County · population 9,188 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,100
- Household income
- $81,503
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 49.9
Temperance is a community of 9,188 people in Monroe County, Michigan. The median home is worth $250,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 86% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 80% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Temperance 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 Temperance is worth $250,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $81,503, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,321 a month. 74.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Temperance | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,321 | $955 |
| Median household income | $81,503 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Temperance
| People | Temperance | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Temperance
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 17.3°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 131 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Temperance since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 260 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 59 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 15, 2023.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: 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 |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 41,159 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,516 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Temperance itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Temperance
4 public schools with 2,767 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,256 | 17.4 |
| Bedford Junior High School | 6-8 | 923 | 19.2 |
| Jackman Road Elementary School | PK-5 | 588 | 17.3 |
| Smith Road Elementary School | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Temperance
- Bedford, MI1.3 mi · 31,813 people · home $253,100
- Lambertville, MI3.0 mi · 10,433 people · home $256,400
- Erie, MI4.6 mi · 4,299 people · home $197,100
- Ida, MI7.0 mi · 4,783 people · home $317,100
- Whiteford, MI7.1 mi · 4,590 people · home $277,900
- Toledo, OH7.2 mi · 270,871 people · home $114,500
- Ottawa Hills, OH7.8 mi · 4,790 people · home $314,900
- La Salle, MI7.9 mi · 4,639 people · home $233,200
Temperance questions
Is Temperance, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Temperance scores better for retirees than 53% of Michigan towns and quieter than 19%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.9).
How much does a house cost in Temperance?
The median owner-occupied home in Temperance is valued at $250,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,503, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,321 a month.
What is the weather like in Temperance?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 17.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does Temperance get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Temperance since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)