The Town FilesChestonia, Michigan
Township in Antrim County · population 512 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $113,500
- Household income
- $38,900
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 128 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 47.5
Chestonia is a township of 512 people in Antrim County, Michigan. The median home is worth $113,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 85% of Michigan towns, quieter than 76% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Chestonia 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 Chestonia is worth $113,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $38,900, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. 91.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chestonia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $113,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $38,900 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.3% | — |
Who lives in Chestonia
| People | Chestonia | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chestonia
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 127.5 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
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chestonia since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 20, 2022 about 8.9 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 20, 2022.
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 Chestonia itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Chestonia
- Kearney, MI5.1 mi · 1,780 people · home $240,600
- Jordan, MI5.1 mi · 887 people · home $205,900
- Star, MI5.7 mi · 1,028 people · home $192,700
- Mancelona, MI6.6 mi · 1,344 people · home $131,400
- Mancelona, MI7.5 mi · 4,311 people · home $159,900
- Bellaire, MI8.5 mi · 1,053 people · home $230,100
- Lakes of the North, MI8.5 mi · 1,044 people · home $232,100
- Echo, MI8.6 mi · 952 people · home $235,600
Chestonia questions
Is Chestonia, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chestonia scores better for retirees than 49% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.5).
How much does a house cost in Chestonia?
The median owner-occupied home in Chestonia is valued at $113,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,900, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Chestonia?
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 127.5 inches of snow.
Does Chestonia get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chestonia 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)