The Town FilesDickson, Michigan
Township in Manistee County · population 980 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,400
- Household income
- $55,781
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 93 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 48.9
Dickson is a township of 980 people in Manistee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $157,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Michigan towns, quieter than 87% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Dickson 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 Dickson is worth $157,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,781, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,625 a month. 91.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dickson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,625 | $955 |
| Median household income | $55,781 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 43.5% | — |
Who lives in Dickson
| People | Dickson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Dickson
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 92.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Dickson since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Manistee County since 1996
Manistee County has been included in 8 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Manistee County
Manistee County had 7,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,233 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Dickson itself the ACS puts it at 14.6%.
Towns near Dickson
- Kaleva, MI6.0 mi · 507 people · home $94,200
- Maple Grove, MI6.5 mi · 1,342 people · home $116,800
- Norman, MI6.6 mi · 1,567 people · home $156,900
- Brown, MI8.3 mi · 704 people · home $238,700
- Slagle, MI9.2 mi · 509 people · home $147,300
- Springville, MI10.5 mi · 1,739 people · home $131,500
- Bear Lake, MI10.7 mi · 1,831 people · home $224,700
- Elk, MI12.1 mi · 940 people · home $181,900
Dickson questions
Is Dickson, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dickson scores better for retirees than 95% of Michigan towns and quieter than 87%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in Dickson?
The median owner-occupied home in Dickson is valued at $157,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,781, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,625 a month.
What is the weather like in Dickson?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 92.6 inches of snow.
Does Dickson get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Dickson in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)