The Town FilesChippewa, Michigan
Township in Mecosta County · population 1,227 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,400
- Household income
- $59,107
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 57.0
Chippewa is a township of 1,227 people in Mecosta County, Michigan. The median home is worth $151,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 88% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Michigan towns, quieter than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Chippewa 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 Chippewa is worth $151,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $59,107, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $722 a month. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chippewa | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $722 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,107 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 50.2% | — |
Who lives in Chippewa
| People | Chippewa | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Chippewa
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
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chippewa since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1968 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 17, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 20, 2013.
Severe weather in Mecosta County since 1996
Mecosta County has been included in 13 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Mecosta County
Mecosta County had 12,746 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,193 a year. Unemployment was 5.3% in 2023; in Chippewa itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Towns near Chippewa
- Evart, MI5.3 mi · 1,345 people · home $140,000
- Fork, MI5.5 mi · 1,627 people · home $145,200
- Grant, MI5.8 mi · 702 people · home $182,900
- Martiny, MI6.3 mi · 1,594 people · home $175,600
- Evart, MI8.4 mi · 1,742 people · home $105,500
- Orient, MI9.0 mi · 733 people · home $173,400
- Colfax, MI9.1 mi · 1,962 people · home $215,400
- Hersey, MI9.1 mi · 1,941 people · home $154,900
Chippewa questions
Is Chippewa, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chippewa scores better for retirees than 88% of Michigan towns and quieter than 79%. 29.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.0).
How much does a house cost in Chippewa?
The median owner-occupied home in Chippewa is valued at $151,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,107, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $722 a month.
What is the weather like in Chippewa?
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 Chippewa get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chippewa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 23, 1968. 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)