The Town FilesBates, Michigan
Township in Iron County · population 925 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $163,200
- Household income
- $54,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 92 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 57.5
Bates is a township of 925 people in Iron County, Michigan. The median home is worth $163,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 90% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Bates 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 Bates is worth $163,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $54,688, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $775 a month. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bates | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $163,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $775 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,688 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 38.0% | — |
Who lives in Bates
| People | Bates | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bates
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 0.0°F. About 31.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 91.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 203 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Bates since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on April 30, 2010 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 30, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 1, 2002.
Severe weather in Iron County since 1996
Iron 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 |
| 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 |
| May 6, 2002 | Flood | DR-1413: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iron County
Iron County had 3,410 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,921 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Bates itself the ACS puts it at 4.8%.
Towns near Bates
- Iron River, MI8.2 mi · 1,052 people · home $153,600
- Iron River, MI10.4 mi · 3,007 people · home $85,000
- Stambaugh, MI11.9 mi · 1,200 people · home $188,100
- Caspian, MI12.4 mi · 805 people · home $79,100
- Crystal Falls, MI14.5 mi · 1,647 people · home $180,900
- Crystal Falls, MI17.7 mi · 1,598 people · home $83,300
- Mastodon, MI22.3 mi · 576 people · home $124,000
- Florence, WI25.5 mi · 2,096 people · home $196,200
Bates questions
Is Bates, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bates scores better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns and quieter than 90%. 40.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.5).
How much does a house cost in Bates?
The median owner-occupied home in Bates is valued at $163,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,688, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $775 a month.
What is the weather like in Bates?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 0.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.4 inches of precipitation a year and 91.5 inches of snow.
Does Bates get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Bates since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on April 30, 2010. 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)