The Town FilesCarson City, Michigan
City in Montcalm County · population 1,120 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $123,600
- Household income
- $44,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 47.2
Carson City is a city of 1,120 people in Montcalm County, Michigan. The median home is worth $123,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 86% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 81% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Carson City 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 Carson City is worth $123,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $44,375, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $680 a month. 49.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carson City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $123,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $680 | $955 |
| Median household income | $44,375 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 49.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Carson City
| People | Carson City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 16.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Carson City
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carson City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 11, 1965 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 11, 2003.
Severe weather in Montcalm County since 1996
Montcalm County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Montcalm County
Montcalm County had 16,263 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,244 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Carson City itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Carson City
5 public schools with 743 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson CityCrystal Upper ElementaryMiddle School | 4-8 | 254 | 16.9 |
| Carson City Elementary School | PK-3 | 231 | 16.5 |
| Carson CityCrystal High School | 9-12 | 213 | 19.4 |
| Carson CityCrystal Virtual Academy | 6-12 | 45 | 45.0 |
| Carson City Correctional Facility | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Carson City
- Bloomer, MI3.0 mi · 6,352 people · home $194,400
- North Shade, MI3.7 mi · 558 people · home $177,100
- Crystal, MI5.4 mi · 2,619 people · home $194,000
- New Haven, MI5.8 mi · 1,064 people · home $207,800
- Crystal, MI6.9 mi · 888 people · home $197,300
- Bushnell, MI8.3 mi · 1,516 people · home $199,100
- Lebanon, MI8.4 mi · 597 people · home $224,000
- North Plains, MI8.4 mi · 1,191 people · home $184,000
Carson City questions
Is Carson City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carson City scores better for retirees than 39% of Michigan towns and quieter than 31%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Carson City?
The median owner-occupied home in Carson City is valued at $123,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,375, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $680 a month.
What is the weather like in Carson City?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 53.8 inches of snow.
Does Carson City get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carson City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)