The Town FilesCornell, Michigan
Township in Delta County · population 565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,800
- Household income
- $57,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 44.6
Cornell is a township of 565 people in Delta County, Michigan. The median home is worth $170,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 89% of Michigan towns, quieter than 89% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Cornell 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 Cornell is worth $170,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $57,813, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. 98.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cornell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $57,813 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 28.8% | — |
Who lives in Cornell
| People | Cornell | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 21.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Cornell
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cornell since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1987 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on July 20, 2026.
Severe weather in Delta County since 1996
Delta County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, hurricane.
| 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 |
| May 10, 1994 | Freezing | DR-1028: Severe Deep Freeze |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Delta County
Delta County had 13,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,978 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Cornell itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Towns near Cornell
- Escanaba, MI7.8 mi · 3,496 people · home $173,800
- Harris, MI8.7 mi · 2,113 people · home $168,800
- Wells, MI11.1 mi · 4,876 people · home $177,000
- Baldwin, MI11.2 mi · 700 people · home $201,000
- Brampton, MI12.0 mi · 1,023 people · home $191,400
- Gladstone, MI13.9 mi · 5,257 people · home $118,600
- Maple Ridge, MI13.9 mi · 694 people · home $157,600
- Spalding, MI14.1 mi · 1,599 people · home $187,700
Cornell questions
Is Cornell, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cornell scores better for retirees than 74% of Michigan towns and quieter than 89%. 29.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Cornell?
The median owner-occupied home in Cornell is valued at $170,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,813, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Cornell?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 42.6 inches of snow.
Does Cornell get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cornell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1987. 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)