The Town FilesColdwater, Michigan
City in Branch County · population 13,822 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,500
- Household income
- $50,781
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 39.5
Coldwater is a city of 13,822 people in Branch County, Michigan. The median home is worth $137,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 92% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 91% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Coldwater 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 Coldwater is worth $137,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $50,781, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $943 a month. 64.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Coldwater | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $943 | $955 |
| Median household income | $50,781 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Coldwater
| People | Coldwater | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Coldwater
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 39.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coldwater since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.7 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 22 deaths and 448 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 18, 2000.
Severe weather in Branch County since 1996
Branch County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Branch County
Branch County had 15,240 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,639 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in Coldwater itself the ACS puts it at 8.3%.
Public schools in Coldwater
9 public schools with 3,498 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coldwater High School | 9-12 | 913 | 25.4 |
| Legg Middle School | 6-8 | 626 | 19.0 |
| Pansophia Academy (charter) | K-12 | 472 | 18.9 |
| Larsen Elementary School | PK-1 | 446 | 16.5 |
| Lakeland Elementary School | 4-5 | 393 | 21.8 |
| Jefferson Elementary School | 2-3 | 366 | 21.5 |
| Waldron Learning Center | PK-12 | 282 | 25.6 |
| Branch Area Careers Center | 11-12 | — | — |
| Lakeland Correctional Facility | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Coldwater
- Coldwater, MI2.4 mi · 3,406 people · home $169,300
- Quincy, MI6.0 mi · 4,108 people · home $161,000
- Union, MI8.6 mi · 2,942 people · home $126,400
- Homer, MI16.5 mi · 2,896 people · home $144,400
- Colon, MI18.1 mi · 3,325 people · home $192,400
- Hillsdale, MI18.6 mi · 8,036 people · home $130,900
- Burr Oak, MI19.0 mi · 2,639 people · home $155,300
- Cambria, MI19.3 mi · 2,552 people · home $190,500
Coldwater questions
Is Coldwater, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Coldwater scores better for retirees than 9% of Michigan towns and quieter than 13%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Coldwater?
The median owner-occupied home in Coldwater is valued at $137,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $50,781, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $943 a month.
What is the weather like in Coldwater?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.1 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does Coldwater get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Coldwater since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)