The Town FilesArcadia, Michigan
Township in Manistee County · population 657 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $239,600
- Household income
- $81,818
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 92 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 64.0
Arcadia is a township of 657 people in Manistee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $239,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Michigan towns, quieter than 96% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Arcadia 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 Arcadia is worth $239,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $81,818, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Arcadia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $239,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $81,818 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 53.0% | — |
Who lives in Arcadia
| People | Arcadia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 64.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 46.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 2.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Arcadia
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 92.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcadia since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 3.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 3, 1956.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on October 3, 2006.
Severe weather in Manistee County since 1996
Manistee County has been included in 8 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 |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Manistee County
Manistee County had 7,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,233 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Arcadia itself the ACS puts it at 12.4%.
Towns near Arcadia
- Pleasanton, MI3.6 mi · 870 people · home $232,900
- Onekama, MI6.3 mi · 1,338 people · home $282,200
- Joyfield, MI7.2 mi · 763 people · home $220,800
- Bear Lake, MI7.4 mi · 1,831 people · home $224,700
- Gilmore, MI8.5 mi · 791 people · home $301,100
- Springdale, MI10.4 mi · 849 people · home $171,600
- Benzonia, MI11.1 mi · 551 people · home $209,100
- Frankfort, MI11.4 mi · 1,252 people · home $350,000
Arcadia questions
Is Arcadia, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Arcadia scores better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns and quieter than 96%. 46.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 64.0).
How much does a house cost in Arcadia?
The median owner-occupied home in Arcadia is valued at $239,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,818, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Arcadia?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 92.4 inches of snow.
Does Arcadia get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Arcadia since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 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)