The Town FilesBuchanan, Michigan
City in Berrien County · population 4,300 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $154,300
- Household income
- $56,163
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 32.7
Buchanan is a city of 4,300 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $154,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 92% of Michigan towns, hipper than 92% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Buchanan 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 Buchanan is worth $154,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $56,163, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $903 a month. 57.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buchanan | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $154,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $903 | $955 |
| Median household income | $56,163 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1960 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Buchanan
| People | Buchanan | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Buchanan
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.7°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buchanan since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 24, 2001 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 8 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 17, 1963.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Buchanan itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Buchanan
4 public schools with 1,463 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan High School | 8-12 | 524 | 16.4 |
| Moccasin Elementary School | 2-4 | 366 | 20.3 |
| Buchanan Middle School | 5-7 | 345 | 19.2 |
| Ottawa Elementary School | PK-1 | 228 | 15.2 |
Towns near Buchanan
- Buchanan, MI2.2 mi · 3,436 people · home $194,000
- Bertrand, MI2.9 mi · 2,611 people · home $297,100
- Niles, MI4.6 mi · 14,417 people · home $173,100
- Niles, MI6.1 mi · 11,988 people · home $135,100
- Oronoko, MI8.4 mi · 9,226 people · home $228,100
- Berrien, MI8.6 mi · 4,868 people · home $252,500
- Baroda, MI9.6 mi · 2,835 people · home $234,400
- Milton, MI10.1 mi · 3,128 people · home $299,600
Buchanan questions
Is Buchanan, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buchanan scores better for retirees than 31% of Michigan towns and quieter than 23%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.7).
How much does a house cost in Buchanan?
The median owner-occupied home in Buchanan is valued at $154,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,163, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $903 a month.
What is the weather like in Buchanan?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 18.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 62.5 inches of snow.
Does Buchanan get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buchanan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 24, 2001. 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)