The Town FilesAlanson, Michigan
Village in Emmet County · population 778 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $134,100
- Household income
- $65,139
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 116 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 42.9
Alanson is a village of 778 people in Emmet County, Michigan. The median home is worth $134,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 84% of Michigan towns, better for families than 82% of Michigan towns.
How Alanson 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 Alanson is worth $134,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.1 times the median household income of $65,139, which is more affordable than 92% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $393 a month. 81.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alanson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $134,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $393 | $955 |
| Median household income | $65,139 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.1% | — |
Who lives in Alanson
| People | Alanson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Alanson
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 8.9°F. About 30.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 115.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alanson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 4, 1957 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 18, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Emmet County since 1996
Emmet County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Emmet County
Emmet County had 17,742 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,435 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Alanson itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Public schools in Alanson
1 public school with 229 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alanson Public School | PK-12 | 229 | 10.9 |
Towns near Alanson
- Littlefield, MI0.8 mi · 3,200 people · home $256,500
- Maple River, MI4.2 mi · 1,295 people · home $220,900
- Little Traverse, MI6.0 mi · 2,657 people · home $345,400
- Springvale, MI6.9 mi · 2,146 people · home $254,000
- Pleasantview, MI7.0 mi · 918 people · home $356,800
- Tuscarora, MI7.4 mi · 3,080 people · home $253,700
- Pellston, MI7.5 mi · 774 people · home $121,000
- Indian River, MI8.0 mi · 1,950 people · home $314,100
Alanson questions
Is Alanson, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alanson scores better for retirees than 39% of Michigan towns and quieter than 38%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.9).
How much does a house cost in Alanson?
The median owner-occupied home in Alanson is valued at $134,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,139, so homes cost about 2.1 times income. Median rent is $393 a month.
What is the weather like in Alanson?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 8.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.0 inches of precipitation a year and 115.5 inches of snow.
Does Alanson get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alanson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 4, 1957. 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)