The Town FilesWolverine Lake, Michigan
Village in Oakland County · population 4,544 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,000
- Household income
- $92,247
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 41.7
Wolverine Lake is a village of 4,544 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $288,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 92% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Wolverine Lake 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 Wolverine Lake is worth $288,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $92,247, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $2,051 a month. 76.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wolverine Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $2,051 | $955 |
| Median household income | $92,247 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Wolverine Lake
| People | Wolverine Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Wolverine Lake
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 29.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wolverine Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 4.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 94 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 27, 2014.
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 Wolverine Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Wolverine Lake
- Walled Lake, MI1.3 mi · 7,250 people · home $224,200
- Commerce, MI1.5 mi · 43,058 people · home $365,700
- Wixom, MI3.1 mi · 17,193 people · home $365,200
- West Bloomfield, MI5.1 mi · 65,888 people · home $426,200
- Novi, MI5.2 mi · 66,243 people · home $421,900
- Milford, MI6.3 mi · 6,520 people · home $363,700
- Milford, MI6.4 mi · 17,090 people · home $425,400
- White Lake, MI7.1 mi · 30,950 people · home $327,000
Wolverine Lake questions
Is Wolverine Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wolverine Lake scores better for retirees than 72% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Wolverine Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Wolverine Lake is valued at $288,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,247, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $2,051 a month.
What is the weather like in Wolverine Lake?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.2 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Wolverine Lake get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wolverine Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. 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)