The Town FilesDafter, Michigan
Township in Chippewa County · population 1,327 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,900
- Household income
- $65,588
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 94 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 44.7
Dafter is a township of 1,327 people in Chippewa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $161,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 94% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 89% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Michigan towns.
How Dafter 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 Dafter is worth $161,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $65,588, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $621 a month. 90.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dafter | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $621 | $955 |
| Median household income | $65,588 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Dafter
| People | Dafter | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 14.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 15.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Dafter
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 94.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dafter since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 5, 1977 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 5, 1977.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 13, 2000.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 7 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 Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 12,793 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,748 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Dafter itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Dafter
1 public school with 91 students, about 30.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior Academy (charter) | K-5 | 91 | 30.3 |
Towns near Dafter
- Kincheloe, MI6.4 mi · 2,587 people · home $110,700
- Bruce, MI6.8 mi · 2,000 people · home $184,300
- Brimley, MI7.5 mi · 501 people · home $146,400
- Sault Ste. Marie, MI8.6 mi · 13,337 people · home $139,400
- Superior, MI11.7 mi · 1,276 people · home $160,400
- Kinross, MI11.8 mi · 6,139 people · home $127,300
- Sugar Island, MI12.4 mi · 653 people · home $175,000
- Rudyard, MI13.2 mi · 1,289 people · home $144,700
Dafter questions
Is Dafter, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dafter scores better for retirees than 68% of Michigan towns and quieter than 47%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Dafter?
The median owner-occupied home in Dafter is valued at $161,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,588, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $621 a month.
What is the weather like in Dafter?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 94.1 inches of snow.
Does Dafter get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Dafter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 5, 1977. 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)