The Town FilesChase, Michigan
Township in Lake County · population 1,153 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $185,400
- Household income
- $61,563
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 43.2
Chase is a township of 1,153 people in Lake County, Michigan. The median home is worth $185,400, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 86% of Michigan towns, quieter than 85% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Chase 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 Chase is worth $185,400, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $61,563, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,375 a month. 86.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chase | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $185,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,375 | $955 |
| Median household income | $61,563 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.1% | — |
Who lives in Chase
| People | Chase | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chase
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chase since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1985 about 9.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 9 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 |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 1,721 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,827 a year. Unemployment was 7% in 2023; in Chase itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Towns near Chase
- Barton, MI5.2 mi · 706 people · home $207,000
- Yates, MI5.6 mi · 755 people · home $132,600
- Pinora, MI6.4 mi · 757 people · home $123,900
- Reed City, MI6.6 mi · 2,490 people · home $115,000
- Richmond, MI7.1 mi · 1,657 people · home $161,100
- Green, MI8.4 mi · 3,219 people · home $156,200
- Lincoln, MI9.5 mi · 1,462 people · home $151,900
- Pleasant Plains, MI11.3 mi · 1,603 people · home $103,500
Chase questions
Is Chase, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chase scores better for retirees than 16% of Michigan towns and quieter than 85%. 24.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Chase?
The median owner-occupied home in Chase is valued at $185,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,563, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,375 a month.
What is the weather like in Chase?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 61.9 inches of snow.
Does Chase get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chase since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 8, 1985. 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)