The Town FilesBurns, Michigan
Township in Shiawassee County · population 3,280 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,200
- Household income
- $83,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 45.7
Burns is a township of 3,280 people in Shiawassee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $236,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Michigan towns, better for families than 93% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Burns 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 Burns is worth $236,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $83,750, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,359 a month. 91.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burns | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,359 | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.3% | — |
Who lives in Burns
| People | Burns | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 39.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Burns
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 15.2°F. About 33.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burns since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on March 14, 2019 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 26, 2007.
Severe weather in Shiawassee County since 1996
Shiawassee County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Shiawassee County
Shiawassee County had 15,541 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,381 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Burns itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Burns
- Vernon, MI4.4 mi · 4,273 people · home $169,400
- Durand, MI5.8 mi · 3,507 people · home $140,300
- Argentine, MI6.2 mi · 7,091 people · home $277,200
- Cohoctah, MI6.7 mi · 3,246 people · home $347,400
- Gaines, MI7.6 mi · 6,664 people · home $238,300
- Argentine, MI7.9 mi · 2,685 people · home $328,700
- Conway, MI8.2 mi · 3,608 people · home $285,500
- Shiawassee, MI8.2 mi · 2,740 people · home $190,200
Burns questions
Is Burns, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burns scores better for retirees than 49% of Michigan towns and quieter than 56%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.7).
How much does a house cost in Burns?
The median owner-occupied home in Burns is valued at $236,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,750, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,359 a month.
What is the weather like in Burns?
July highs average 83.3°F and January lows 15.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.5 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does Burns get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burns since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on March 14, 2019. 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)