The Town FilesCleon, Michigan
Township in Manistee County · population 1,063 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $188,000
- Household income
- $51,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 98 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 46.5
Cleon is a township of 1,063 people in Manistee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $188,000, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Michigan towns, quieter than 79% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Cleon 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 Cleon is worth $188,000, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $51,625, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,167 a month. 92.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cleon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $188,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,167 | $955 |
| Median household income | $51,625 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 17.8% | — |
Who lives in Cleon
| People | Cleon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 36.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Cleon
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 98.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleon since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 9.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 26, 1986.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on March 31, 2026.
Severe weather in Manistee County since 1996
Manistee County has been included in 8 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 Manistee County
Manistee County had 7,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,233 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Cleon itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Towns near Cleon
- Springdale, MI5.1 mi · 849 people · home $171,600
- Colfax, MI5.9 mi · 677 people · home $166,300
- Wexford, MI6.3 mi · 1,161 people · home $157,600
- Maple Grove, MI7.3 mi · 1,342 people · home $116,800
- Weldon, MI8.4 mi · 579 people · home $237,000
- Grant, MI8.8 mi · 1,212 people · home $260,800
- Springville, MI8.9 mi · 1,739 people · home $131,500
- Kaleva, MI9.2 mi · 507 people · home $94,200
Cleon questions
Is Cleon, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cleon scores better for retirees than 51% of Michigan towns and quieter than 79%. 25.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.5).
How much does a house cost in Cleon?
The median owner-occupied home in Cleon is valued at $188,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,625, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,167 a month.
What is the weather like in Cleon?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 98.2 inches of snow.
Does Cleon get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cleon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. 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)