The Town FilesDayton, Michigan
Township in Tuscola County · population 1,920 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,800
- Household income
- $69,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 52.2
Dayton is a township of 1,920 people in Tuscola County, Michigan. The median home is worth $181,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Michigan towns, quieter than 78% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 73% of Michigan towns.
How Dayton 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 Dayton is worth $181,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $69,583, which is more affordable than 68% of Michigan towns. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dayton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,583 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.8% | — |
Who lives in Dayton
| People | Dayton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 39.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Dayton
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 30, 1984 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 2, 1984.
Severe weather in Tuscola County since 1996
Tuscola County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Tuscola County
Tuscola County had 12,102 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,754 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Dayton itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Towns near Dayton
- Mayville, MI4.6 mi · 922 people · home $121,300
- Wells, MI5.4 mi · 1,590 people · home $166,300
- Koylton, MI5.9 mi · 1,485 people · home $171,100
- Fremont, MI6.4 mi · 3,167 people · home $144,400
- Rich, MI6.7 mi · 1,500 people · home $279,200
- Kingston, MI7.3 mi · 1,476 people · home $159,000
- Indianfields, MI8.1 mi · 2,492 people · home $166,300
- Burlington, MI8.5 mi · 1,414 people · home $174,100
Dayton questions
Is Dayton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dayton scores better for retirees than 60% of Michigan towns and quieter than 78%. 30.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Dayton?
The median owner-occupied home in Dayton is valued at $181,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,583, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Dayton?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 43.1 inches of snow.
Does Dayton get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dayton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 30, 1984. 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)