The Town Files

Iron County, Michigan

11,667 people. The median home is worth $109,100 (typical Michigan town: $193,900) and the median household earns $55,940.

Towns in Iron County

Towns in Iron County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Iron River3,007$85,000$54,18343.1

People and housing

Iron CountyTypical Michigan town
Median home value$109,100$193,900
Median rent$716$955
Median household income$55,940$69,792
Median age53.143.7
Bachelor's degree or higher22.5%21.5%
Below the poverty line17.0%10.4%

Jobs and pay

3,410 jobs in 2024, average pay $44,921 a year.

Largest industries in Iron CountyRetail626 jobs · $47,218Hotels & restaurants314 jobs · $15,467Manufacturing287 jobs · $44,858Health care & social assistan…277 jobs · $58,402Construction217 jobs · $53,364Other services165 jobs · $39,553
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Iron County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 5.6%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 408 storm events in Iron County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Iron County by type since 1996Hail56Flood10High Wind7Ice Storm5Heavy Rain9Heavy Snow17Frost/Freeze10Winter Storm67Winter Weather75Cold/Wind Chill40
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Iron County has been included in 7 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 30, 2026FloodDR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 27, 2020BiologicalDR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3455: Covid-19
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
May 6, 2002FloodDR-1413: Flooding
January 27, 1978SnowstormEM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).