The Town FilesBuel, Michigan
Township in Sanilac County · population 1,161 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $164,000
- Household income
- $59,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 40.7
Buel is a township of 1,161 people in Sanilac County, Michigan. The median home is worth $164,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 95% of Michigan towns, better for families than 85% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Buel 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 Buel is worth $164,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $59,688, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 87.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buel | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $164,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $950 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,688 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.4% | — |
Who lives in Buel
| People | Buel | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Buel
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buel since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 2, 1984 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 14, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 6, 1977.
Severe weather in Sanilac County since 1996
Sanilac 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 Sanilac County
Sanilac County had 10,437 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,626 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Buel itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Towns near Buel
- Croswell, MI4.4 mi · 2,322 people · home $149,600
- Lexington, MI5.5 mi · 3,485 people · home $203,400
- Washington, MI5.6 mi · 1,524 people · home $150,900
- Peck, MI6.4 mi · 593 people · home $117,000
- Elk, MI6.5 mi · 1,522 people · home $144,100
- Fremont, MI6.6 mi · 958 people · home $192,000
- Watertown, MI7.3 mi · 1,263 people · home $175,100
- Lexington, MI8.4 mi · 943 people · home $184,500
Buel questions
Is Buel, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buel scores better for retirees than 63% of Michigan towns and quieter than 70%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.7).
How much does a house cost in Buel?
The median owner-occupied home in Buel is valued at $164,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,688, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Buel?
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 40.7 inches of snow.
Does Buel get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 2, 1984. 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)