The Town FilesChassell, Michigan
Community in Houghton County · population 876 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,600
- Household income
- $54,148
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 77°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 49.4
Chassell is a community of 876 people in Houghton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $167,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 100% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Chassell 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 Chassell is worth $167,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $54,148, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chassell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,148 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.1% | — |
Who lives in Chassell
| People | Chassell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chassell
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Chassell since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 20, 2011.
Severe weather in Houghton County since 1996
Houghton County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4381: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Houghton County
Houghton County had 12,124 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,867 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Chassell itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near Chassell
- Chassell, MI3.8 mi · 1,878 people · home $197,200
- Houghton, MI5.5 mi · 8,386 people · home $254,500
- South Range, MI5.8 mi · 750 people · home $101,100
- Dollar Bay, MI6.4 mi · 1,061 people · home $153,100
- Atlantic Mine, MI6.5 mi · 565 people · home $103,500
- Portage, MI6.8 mi · 3,189 people · home $204,700
- Adams, MI7.3 mi · 2,540 people · home $118,000
- Hancock, MI7.6 mi · 4,501 people · home $165,600
Chassell questions
Is Chassell, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chassell scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 60%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.4).
How much does a house cost in Chassell?
The median owner-occupied home in Chassell is valued at $167,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,148, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Chassell?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Chassell get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Chassell in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)