The Town FilesCato, Michigan
Township in Montcalm County · population 2,898 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,200
- Household income
- $67,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 37.5
Cato is a township of 2,898 people in Montcalm County, Michigan. The median home is worth $174,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 78% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Cato 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 Cato is worth $174,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $67,500, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $711 a month. 83.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cato | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $711 | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,500 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.3% | — |
Who lives in Cato
| People | Cato | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 9.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Cato
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cato since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 133 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 26, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 29, 2014.
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 Cato itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Towns near Cato
- Canadian Lakes, MI11.4 mi · 3,202 people · home $270,000
- Montcalm, MI12.0 mi · 3,394 people · home $210,600
- Pierson, MI12.1 mi · 3,363 people · home $243,700
- Home, MI12.1 mi · 2,716 people · home $136,800
- Morton, MI12.3 mi · 4,426 people · home $252,300
- Spencer, MI12.7 mi · 4,163 people · home $228,900
- Reynolds, MI12.8 mi · 5,431 people · home $181,200
- Sidney, MI13.6 mi · 2,538 people · home $188,300
Cato questions
Is Cato, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cato scores better for retirees than 9% of Michigan towns and quieter than 55%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Cato?
The median owner-occupied home in Cato is valued at $174,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,500, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $711 a month.
What is the weather like in Cato?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 67.6 inches of snow.
Does Cato get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cato since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. 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)