The Town FilesWayland, Michigan
City in Allegan County · population 4,435 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $207,400
- Household income
- $74,464
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 73 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 34.3
Wayland is a city of 4,435 people in Allegan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $207,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 90% of Michigan towns, better transit than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Wayland 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 Wayland is worth $207,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $74,464, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,160 a month. 71.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wayland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $207,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,160 | $955 |
| Median household income | $74,464 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.1% | — |
Who lives in Wayland
| People | Wayland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Wayland
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 39.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wayland since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 3, 1956 about 7.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Allegan County since 1996
Allegan County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allegan County
Allegan County had 41,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,226 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Wayland itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Wayland
6 public schools with 2,426 students, about 16.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayland High School | 9-12 | 814 | 19.9 |
| Wayland Union Middle School | 5-8 | 617 | 17.6 |
| Pine Street Elementary | 4-5 | 390 | 20.5 |
| Bessie B Baker School | PK-1 | 313 | 16.5 |
| RJ Steeby School | 2-3 | 240 | 17.1 |
| Career Connections Academy | 9-12 | 52 | 2.5 |
Towns near Wayland
- Wayland, MI3.2 mi · 3,573 people · home $329,500
- Leighton, MI4.3 mi · 7,001 people · home $357,900
- Hopkins, MI4.6 mi · 2,760 people · home $287,500
- Dorr, MI5.3 mi · 3,520 people · home $277,600
- Dorr, MI5.4 mi · 7,922 people · home $290,100
- Thornapple, MI8.0 mi · 9,331 people · home $280,800
- Yankee Springs, MI8.3 mi · 5,322 people · home $373,900
- Martin, MI8.8 mi · 2,723 people · home $205,700
Wayland questions
Is Wayland, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wayland scores better for retirees than 7% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.3).
How much does a house cost in Wayland?
The median owner-occupied home in Wayland is valued at $207,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,464, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,160 a month.
What is the weather like in Wayland?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.2 inches of precipitation a year and 72.6 inches of snow.
Does Wayland get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wayland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 3, 1956. 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)