The Town FilesCenter, Michigan
Township in Emmet County · population 525 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $219,500
- Household income
- $68,636
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 74°
- Snow a year
- 80 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 46.7
Center is a township of 525 people in Emmet County, Michigan. The median home is worth $219,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 96% of Michigan towns, better for families than 89% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Center 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 Center is worth $219,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $68,636, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. 92.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Center | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $219,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $68,636 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 32.0% | — |
Who lives in Center
| People | Center | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Center
July highs average 74.1°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 79.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 4, 1957 about 6.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 4, 1957.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on September 30, 2019.
Severe weather in Emmet County since 1996
Emmet County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Emmet County
Emmet County had 17,742 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,435 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Center itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near Center
- Readmond, MI5.8 mi · 560 people · home $287,500
- McKinley, MI6.5 mi · 1,294 people · home $117,300
- Pleasantview, MI6.6 mi · 918 people · home $356,800
- Bliss, MI6.9 mi · 568 people · home $185,400
- Pellston, MI7.3 mi · 774 people · home $121,000
- Friendship, MI8.2 mi · 954 people · home $354,000
- Carp Lake, MI8.6 mi · 748 people · home $195,200
- Maple River, MI8.7 mi · 1,295 people · home $220,900
Center questions
Is Center, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Center scores better for retirees than 64% of Michigan towns and quieter than 47%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Center?
The median owner-occupied home in Center is valued at $219,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,636, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Center?
July highs average 74.1°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 79.5 inches of snow.
Does Center get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Center since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 4, 1957. 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)