The Town FilesBad Axe, Michigan
City in Huron County · population 3,021 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,200
- Household income
- $44,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 48.6
Bad Axe is a city of 3,021 people in Huron County, Michigan. The median home is worth $125,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 94% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 88% of Michigan towns, hipper than 88% of Michigan towns.
How Bad Axe 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 Bad Axe is worth $125,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $44,688, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $742 a month. 57.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bad Axe | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $742 | $955 |
| Median household income | $44,688 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Bad Axe
| People | Bad Axe | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 20.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 76.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bad Axe
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 150 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bad Axe since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 4, 1974 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 6, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 15, 2007.
Severe weather in Huron County since 1996
Huron County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| September 18, 1986 | Flood | DR-774: Severe Storms & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Huron County
Huron County had 11,234 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,295 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Bad Axe itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Bad Axe
10 public schools with 952 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bad Axe High School | 7-12 | 374 | 15.0 |
| Bad Axe Middle School | 3-6 | 220 | 16.9 |
| Bad Axe Elementary School | K-2 | 201 | 15.5 |
| Ascent High School | 9-12 | 40 | 40.0 |
| Adams Elementary School | K-8 | 32 | 16.0 |
| Huron Learning Center | PK-12 | 32 | 2.1 |
| Verona Mills School | K-8 | 27 | 27.0 |
| Big Burning School | K-8 | 14 | 14.0 |
| Church School | K-8 | 12 | 12.0 |
| Huron Area Technical Center | 6-12 | — | — |
Towns near Bad Axe
- Elkland, MI14.9 mi · 3,532 people · home $117,800
- Sebewaing, MI21.1 mi · 2,678 people · home $111,400
- Sandusky, MI27.8 mi · 2,709 people · home $113,800
- Caro, MI29.7 mi · 4,328 people · home $102,700
Bad Axe questions
Is Bad Axe, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bad Axe scores better for retirees than 76% of Michigan towns and quieter than 35%. 26.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Bad Axe?
The median owner-occupied home in Bad Axe is valued at $125,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,688, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $742 a month.
What is the weather like in Bad Axe?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 44.8 inches of snow.
Does Bad Axe get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bad Axe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 4, 1974. 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)