The Town FilesCentral Lake, Michigan
Township in Antrim County · population 2,159 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $228,200
- Household income
- $69,891
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 122 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 50.4
Central Lake is a township of 2,159 people in Antrim County, Michigan. The median home is worth $228,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 96% of Michigan towns, quieter than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Central Lake 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 Central Lake is worth $228,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $69,891, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,000 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $228,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,000 | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,891 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 38.6% | — |
Who lives in Central Lake
| People | Central Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Central Lake
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 122.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 3, 1974 about 8.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Antrim County since 1996
Antrim 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 Antrim County
Antrim County had 5,128 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,968 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Central Lake itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Central Lake
- Central Lake, MI1.1 mi · 960 people · home $167,100
- Torch Lake, MI4.1 mi · 1,212 people · home $570,400
- Echo, MI6.1 mi · 952 people · home $235,600
- Banks, MI6.3 mi · 1,588 people · home $248,800
- Forest Home, MI6.6 mi · 1,675 people · home $307,300
- South Arm, MI8.1 mi · 1,939 people · home $262,400
- Bellaire, MI8.3 mi · 1,053 people · home $230,100
- East Jordan, MI8.9 mi · 2,239 people · home $148,000
Central Lake questions
Is Central Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central Lake scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 90%. 30.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.4).
How much does a house cost in Central Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Central Lake is valued at $228,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,891, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,000 a month.
What is the weather like in Central Lake?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 122.2 inches of snow.
Does Central Lake get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 3, 1974. 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)