The Town FilesBliss, Michigan
Township in Emmet County · population 568 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,400
- Household income
- $78,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 74°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 52.2
Bliss is a township of 568 people in Emmet County, Michigan. The median home is worth $185,400, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Michigan towns, quieter than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Bliss 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 Bliss is worth $185,400, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $78,750, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $989 a month. 91.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bliss | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $989 | $955 |
| Median household income | $78,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.9% | — |
Who lives in Bliss
| People | Bliss | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Bliss
July highs average 74.1°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Bliss since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 1 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on September 30, 2019.
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 Bliss itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Bliss
- Carp Lake, MI5.8 mi · 748 people · home $195,200
- Center, MI6.9 mi · 525 people · home $219,500
- Wawatam, MI7.1 mi · 711 people · home $226,900
- McKinley, MI9.9 mi · 1,294 people · home $117,300
- Mackinaw City, MI9.9 mi · 846 people · home $224,300
- Readmond, MI10.2 mi · 560 people · home $287,500
- Pellston, MI12.0 mi · 774 people · home $121,000
- Pleasantview, MI13.5 mi · 918 people · home $356,800
Bliss questions
Is Bliss, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bliss scores better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns and quieter than 91%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Bliss?
The median owner-occupied home in Bliss is valued at $185,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,750, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $989 a month.
What is the weather like in Bliss?
July highs average 74.1°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 79.5 inches of snow.
Does Bliss get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Bliss in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)