The Town FilesCharlton, Michigan
Township in Otsego County · population 1,350 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,500
- Household income
- $66,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 121 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 51.6
Charlton is a township of 1,350 people in Otsego County, Michigan. The median home is worth $214,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 84% of Michigan towns, quieter than 82% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 74% of Michigan towns.
How Charlton 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 Charlton is worth $214,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $66,813, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 94.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Charlton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $818 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,813 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 54.6% | — |
Who lives in Charlton
| People | Charlton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 18.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Charlton
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 7.8°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 120.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 200 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 20, 2022 about 7.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 44 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 2023.
Severe weather in Otsego County since 1996
Otsego County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
Jobs and pay in Otsego County
Otsego County had 10,703 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,154 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Charlton itself the ACS puts it at 8.1%.
Public schools in Charlton
2 public schools with 538 students, about 16.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| JohannesburgLewiston ElementaryMiddle School | K-8 | 324 | 17.1 |
| JohannesburgLewiston High School | 9-12 | 214 | 16.5 |
Towns near Charlton
- Vienna, MI5.5 mi · 535 people · home $155,800
- Chester, MI6.3 mi · 1,300 people · home $213,700
- Dover, MI8.8 mi · 632 people · home $250,000
- Lewiston, MI9.6 mi · 996 people · home $169,800
- Bagley, MI10.8 mi · 5,867 people · home $234,300
- Albert, MI11.1 mi · 2,453 people · home $170,200
- Briley, MI12.0 mi · 1,697 people · home $122,100
- Gaylord, MI12.5 mi · 4,286 people · home $192,800
Charlton questions
Is Charlton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Charlton scores better for retirees than 74% of Michigan towns and quieter than 82%. 24.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.6).
How much does a house cost in Charlton?
The median owner-occupied home in Charlton is valued at $214,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,813, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in Charlton?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 7.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 120.9 inches of snow.
Does Charlton get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charlton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022. 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)