The Town FilesCrystal Lake, Michigan
Township in Benzie County · population 1,065 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $348,800
- Household income
- $69,913
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 93 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 63.7
Crystal Lake is a township of 1,065 people in Benzie County, Michigan. The median home is worth $348,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 98% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 97% of Michigan towns.
How Crystal Lake 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 Crystal Lake is worth $348,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $69,913, which is more affordable than 2% of Michigan towns. 89.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Crystal Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $348,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,913 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 61.5% | — |
Who lives in Crystal Lake
| People | Crystal Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 46.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 9.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 52.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 17.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Crystal Lake
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 93.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 9.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 15, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on October 3, 2006.
Severe weather in Benzie County since 1996
Benzie County has been included in 6 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 |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Benzie County
Benzie County had 4,882 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,619 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Crystal Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Crystal Lake
- Frankfort, MI2.2 mi · 1,252 people · home $350,000
- Gilmore, MI2.9 mi · 791 people · home $301,100
- Benzonia, MI3.8 mi · 2,734 people · home $327,000
- Benzonia, MI4.6 mi · 551 people · home $209,100
- Lake, MI5.5 mi · 694 people · home $650,000
- Joyfield, MI8.2 mi · 763 people · home $220,800
- Homestead, MI10.2 mi · 2,329 people · home $226,200
- Weldon, MI10.5 mi · 579 people · home $237,000
Crystal Lake questions
Is Crystal Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Crystal Lake scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 73%. 46.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.7).
How much does a house cost in Crystal Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Crystal Lake is valued at $348,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,913, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Crystal Lake?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 93.0 inches of snow.
Does Crystal Lake get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Crystal Lake 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)