The Town FilesBrown, Michigan
Township in Manistee County · population 704 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,700
- Household income
- $60,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 93 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 58.2
Brown is a township of 704 people in Manistee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $238,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns, quieter than 88% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Brown 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 Brown is worth $238,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $60,938, which is more affordable than 9% of Michigan towns. 95.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Brown | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,938 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.6% | — |
Who lives in Brown
| People | Brown | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Brown
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 92.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 27, 2024.
Severe weather in Manistee County since 1996
Manistee County has been included in 8 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Manistee County
Manistee County had 7,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,233 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Brown itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Towns near Brown
- Bear Lake, MI5.1 mi · 1,831 people · home $224,700
- Kaleva, MI6.7 mi · 507 people · home $94,200
- Manistee, MI6.8 mi · 4,022 people · home $193,900
- Stronach, MI7.2 mi · 834 people · home $165,600
- Onekama, MI7.6 mi · 1,338 people · home $282,200
- Dickson, MI8.3 mi · 980 people · home $157,400
- Parkdale, MI8.6 mi · 607 people · home $122,100
- Maple Grove, MI8.6 mi · 1,342 people · home $116,800
Brown questions
Is Brown, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Brown scores better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns and quieter than 88%. 33.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.2).
How much does a house cost in Brown?
The median owner-occupied home in Brown is valued at $238,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,938, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Brown?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 92.6 inches of snow.
Does Brown get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Brown 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)