The Town FilesBurr Oak, Michigan
Village in St. Joseph County · population 753 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $106,400
- Household income
- $63,816
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 34.6
Burr Oak is a village of 753 people in St. Joseph County, Michigan. The median home is worth $106,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 77% of Michigan towns, better for families than 76% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Burr Oak 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 Burr Oak is worth $106,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $63,816, which is more affordable than 98% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $983 a month. 76.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Burr Oak | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $106,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $983 | $955 |
| Median household income | $63,816 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1945 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Burr Oak
| People | Burr Oak | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 2.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 2.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 8.4% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Burr Oak
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.5°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burr Oak since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 1, 2003.
Severe weather in St. Joseph County since 1996
St. Joseph County has been included in 8 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 St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County had 21,098 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,550 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Burr Oak itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Burr Oak
2 public schools with 218 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burr Oak Elementary School | K-8 | 152 | 16.9 |
| Burr Oak High School | 9-12 | 66 | 13.2 |
Towns near Burr Oak
- Burr Oak, MI1.0 mi · 2,639 people · home $155,300
- Fawn River, MI4.1 mi · 1,587 people · home $148,200
- Bronson, MI4.2 mi · 1,288 people · home $184,400
- Sturgis, MI5.9 mi · 11,082 people · home $152,600
- Bronson, MI7.1 mi · 2,307 people · home $114,800
- Colon, MI7.1 mi · 3,325 people · home $192,400
- Sherman, MI8.0 mi · 3,444 people · home $262,700
- Colon, MI8.0 mi · 1,199 people · home $153,500
Burr Oak questions
Is Burr Oak, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Burr Oak scores better for retirees than 34% of Michigan towns and quieter than 45%. 10.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.6).
How much does a house cost in Burr Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in Burr Oak is valued at $106,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,816, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $983 a month.
What is the weather like in Burr Oak?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 16.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 41.0 inches of snow.
Does Burr Oak get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Burr Oak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)