The Town FilesVan Buren, Michigan
Charter township in Wayne County · population 30,375 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $269,700
- Household income
- $78,230
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 43.1
Van Buren is a charter township of 30,375 people in Wayne County, Michigan. The median home is worth $269,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 88% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 88% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Van Buren 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 Van Buren is worth $269,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $78,230, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,230 a month. 64.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Van Buren | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $269,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,230 | $955 |
| Median household income | $78,230 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Van Buren
| People | Van Buren | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.6% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Van Buren
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 30.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 130 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 6. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 65 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 4, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 9, 2001.
Severe weather in Wayne County since 1996
Wayne County has been included in 17 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 Wayne County
Wayne County had 725,504 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $76,411 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Van Buren itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Towns near Van Buren
- Belleville, MI1.3 mi · 4,008 people · home $148,300
- Ypsilanti, MI5.9 mi · 55,670 people · home $233,900
- Canton, MI6.0 mi · 98,659 people · home $372,400
- Sumpter, MI6.0 mi · 9,660 people · home $270,700
- Romulus, MI6.1 mi · 25,178 people · home $159,500
- Wayne, MI6.3 mi · 17,713 people · home $157,800
- Ypsilanti, MI7.2 mi · 20,648 people · home $232,700
- Superior, MI8.3 mi · 14,832 people · home $305,800
Van Buren questions
Is Van Buren, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Van Buren scores better for retirees than 12% of Michigan towns and quieter than 13%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.1).
How much does a house cost in Van Buren?
The median owner-occupied home in Van Buren is valued at $269,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,230, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,230 a month.
What is the weather like in Van Buren?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.2 inches of precipitation a year and 45.0 inches of snow.
Does Van Buren get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Van Buren 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)