The Town FilesBrimley, Michigan
Community in Chippewa County · population 501 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $146,400
- Household income
- $65,313
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 94 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 59.3
Brimley is a community of 501 people in Chippewa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $146,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 91% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 85% of Michigan towns.
How Brimley 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 Brimley is worth $146,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $65,313, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. 98.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brimley | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $146,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $65,313 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.1% | — |
Who lives in Brimley
| People | Brimley | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 42.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Brimley
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 94.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Brimley since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on April 1, 1987 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 1, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 5, 1989.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, hurricane.
| 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 |
| May 10, 1994 | Freezing | DR-1028: Severe Deep Freeze |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 12,793 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,748 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Brimley itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Brimley
2 public schools with 588 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brimley Area School | PK-12 | 451 | 12.9 |
| Ojibwe Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 137 | 11.4 |
Towns near Brimley
- Superior, MI5.3 mi · 1,276 people · home $160,400
- Dafter, MI7.5 mi · 1,327 people · home $161,900
- Kinross, MI8.3 mi · 6,139 people · home $127,300
- Bay Mills, MI9.6 mi · 1,567 people · home $166,000
- Sault Ste. Marie, MI11.2 mi · 13,337 people · home $139,400
- Kincheloe, MI11.3 mi · 2,587 people · home $110,700
- Rudyard, MI13.1 mi · 1,289 people · home $144,700
- Bruce, MI14.3 mi · 2,000 people · home $184,300
Brimley questions
Is Brimley, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brimley scores better for retirees than 48% of Michigan towns and quieter than 26%. 42.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.3).
How much does a house cost in Brimley?
The median owner-occupied home in Brimley is valued at $146,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,313, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Brimley?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 94.1 inches of snow.
Does Brimley get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Brimley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on April 1, 1987. 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)