The Town FilesDowagiac, Michigan
City in Cass County · population 5,721 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $130,800
- Household income
- $48,166
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 87 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 37.2
Dowagiac is a city of 5,721 people in Cass County, Michigan. The median home is worth $130,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 83% of Michigan towns, hipper than 80% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 78% of Michigan towns.
How Dowagiac 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 Dowagiac is worth $130,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $48,166, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $840 a month. 58.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dowagiac | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $130,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $840 | $955 |
| Median household income | $48,166 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Dowagiac
| People | Dowagiac | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.3% | — |
| Work from home | 3.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Dowagiac
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 86.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dowagiac since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 5, 2010 about 1.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 16, 2026.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Cass County
Cass County had 9,373 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,894 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Dowagiac itself the ACS puts it at 8.9%.
Public schools in Dowagiac
7 public schools with 1,729 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union High School | 9-12 | 530 | 19.6 |
| Dowagiac Middle School | 6-8 | 379 | 19.0 |
| Justus Gage Elementary School | PK-5 | 283 | 16.6 |
| Kincheloe Elementary School | K-5 | 224 | 16.0 |
| Patrick Hamilton Elementary | K-5 | 220 | 14.7 |
| Pathfinders Alternative Ed | 6-12 | 50 | 16.7 |
| North Pointe Center | K-12 | 43 | 14.3 |
Towns near Dowagiac
- Silver Creek, MI4.4 mi · 3,051 people · home $255,100
- Wayne, MI4.4 mi · 2,576 people · home $207,900
- LaGrange, MI5.1 mi · 3,787 people · home $119,600
- Howard, MI9.3 mi · 6,275 people · home $200,000
- Berrien, MI9.5 mi · 4,868 people · home $252,500
- Jefferson, MI9.7 mi · 2,590 people · home $268,900
- Bainbridge, MI11.9 mi · 2,682 people · home $220,600
- Niles, MI12.4 mi · 11,988 people · home $135,100
Dowagiac questions
Is Dowagiac, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dowagiac scores better for retirees than 23% of Michigan towns and quieter than 34%. 21.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.2).
How much does a house cost in Dowagiac?
The median owner-occupied home in Dowagiac is valued at $130,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,166, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $840 a month.
What is the weather like in Dowagiac?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 86.6 inches of snow.
Does Dowagiac get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dowagiac since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 5, 2010. 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)