The Town FilesEast Jordan, Michigan
City in Charlevoix County · population 2,239 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $148,000
- Household income
- $60,104
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 122 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 41.9
East Jordan is a city of 2,239 people in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The median home is worth $148,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 92% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 84% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 80% of Michigan towns.
How East Jordan 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 East Jordan is worth $148,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $60,104, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $812 a month. 80.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | East Jordan | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $148,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $812 | $955 |
| Median household income | $60,104 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.5% | — |
Who lives in East Jordan
| People | East Jordan | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in East Jordan
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 122.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Jordan since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 3, 1974 about 5.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Charlevoix County since 1996
Charlevoix County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County had 10,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in East Jordan itself the ACS puts it at 0.9%.
Public schools in East Jordan
3 public schools with 762 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Jordan Elementary School | PK-6 | 406 | 14.5 |
| East Jordan MiddleHigh School | 7-12 | 349 | 15.2 |
| East Jordan Alternative High School | 9-12 | 7 | — |
Towns near East Jordan
- South Arm, MI1.9 mi · 1,939 people · home $262,400
- Echo, MI4.8 mi · 952 people · home $235,600
- Wilson, MI5.0 mi · 1,858 people · home $299,500
- Eveline, MI6.7 mi · 1,515 people · home $459,100
- Boyne City, MI7.1 mi · 3,816 people · home $249,000
- Jordan, MI7.2 mi · 887 people · home $205,900
- Central Lake, MI8.6 mi · 960 people · home $167,100
- Banks, MI8.6 mi · 1,588 people · home $248,800
East Jordan questions
Is East Jordan, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, East Jordan scores better for retirees than 40% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in East Jordan?
The median owner-occupied home in East Jordan is valued at $148,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $60,104, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $812 a month.
What is the weather like in East Jordan?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 122.2 inches of snow.
Does East Jordan get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of East Jordan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 3, 1974. 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)