The Town FilesWest Ishpeming, Michigan
Community in Marquette County · population 2,552 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,900
- Household income
- $95,129
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 118 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 41.5
West Ishpeming is a community of 2,552 people in Marquette County, Michigan. The median home is worth $193,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 85% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 82% of Michigan towns.
How West Ishpeming 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 West Ishpeming is worth $193,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $95,129, which is more affordable than 94% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 94.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Ishpeming | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $955 |
| Median household income | $95,129 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in West Ishpeming
| People | West Ishpeming | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in West Ishpeming
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 6.1°F. About 30.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 117.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 191 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Ishpeming since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 24, 2016 about 4.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 14, 2007.
Severe weather in Marquette County since 1996
Marquette County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marquette County
Marquette County had 26,385 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,658 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in West Ishpeming itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Towns near West Ishpeming
- Ishpeming, MI2.4 mi · 6,140 people · home $111,900
- Negaunee, MI6.0 mi · 4,627 people · home $170,100
- Negaunee, MI9.2 mi · 3,232 people · home $302,400
- Ishpeming, MI9.6 mi · 3,392 people · home $206,400
- Marquette, MI12.4 mi · 4,140 people · home $286,700
- Marquette, MI15.9 mi · 20,629 people · home $274,700
- Harvey, MI17.1 mi · 3,244 people · home $262,800
- K. I. Sawyer, MI20.0 mi · 3,064 people · home $87,300
West Ishpeming questions
Is West Ishpeming, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Ishpeming scores better for retirees than 74% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 21.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in West Ishpeming?
The median owner-occupied home in West Ishpeming is valued at $193,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,129, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in West Ishpeming?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 6.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.2 inches of precipitation a year and 117.8 inches of snow.
Does West Ishpeming get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Ishpeming since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 24, 2016. 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)