The Town FilesBenzonia, Michigan
Village in Benzie County · population 551 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $209,100
- Household income
- $61,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 93 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.4
Benzonia is a village of 551 people in Benzie County, Michigan. The median home is worth $209,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 98% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns, better transit than 96% of Michigan towns.
How Benzonia 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 Benzonia is worth $209,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $61,875, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,125 a month. 86.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benzonia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $209,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,125 | $955 |
| Median household income | $61,875 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.1% | — |
Who lives in Benzonia
| People | Benzonia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Benzonia
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 93.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benzonia 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 6.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 15, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on October 3, 2006.
Severe weather in Benzie County since 1996
Benzie County has been included in 6 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 |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Benzie County
Benzie County had 4,882 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,619 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Benzonia itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Benzonia
4 public schools with 852 students, about 18.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzie Central Sr High School | 9-12 | 322 | 21.5 |
| Benzie Central Middle School | 6-8 | 239 | 18.4 |
| Homestead Hills Elementary School | PK-5 | 208 | 12.2 |
| Benzie Academy | 6-12 | 83 | 83.0 |
Towns near Benzonia
- Benzonia, MI2.9 mi · 2,734 people · home $327,000
- Crystal Lake, MI4.6 mi · 1,065 people · home $348,800
- Gilmore, MI4.8 mi · 791 people · home $301,100
- Joyfield, MI5.2 mi · 763 people · home $220,800
- Weldon, MI6.0 mi · 579 people · home $237,000
- Homestead, MI6.1 mi · 2,329 people · home $226,200
- Frankfort, MI6.7 mi · 1,252 people · home $350,000
- Lake, MI6.9 mi · 694 people · home $650,000
Benzonia questions
Is Benzonia, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benzonia scores better for retirees than 96% of Michigan towns and quieter than 94%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Benzonia?
The median owner-occupied home in Benzonia is valued at $209,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,875, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,125 a month.
What is the weather like in Benzonia?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 93.0 inches of snow.
Does Benzonia get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benzonia 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)