The Town FilesEaton Rapids, Michigan
City in Eaton County · population 5,203 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $155,800
- Household income
- $63,875
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 41.3
Eaton Rapids is a city of 5,203 people in Eaton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $155,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 92% of Michigan towns, hipper than 88% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 85% of Michigan towns.
How Eaton Rapids 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 Eaton Rapids is worth $155,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $63,875, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $972 a month. 69.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Eaton Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $155,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $972 | $955 |
| Median household income | $63,875 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Eaton Rapids
| People | Eaton Rapids | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Eaton Rapids
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 15.6°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eaton Rapids since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1977 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 55 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 13, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 26 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Eaton County since 1996
Eaton County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: 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 |
Jobs and pay in Eaton County
Eaton County had 44,501 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,862 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Eaton Rapids itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Eaton Rapids
7 public schools with 2,125 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eaton Rapids High School | 9-12 | 635 | 17.6 |
| Eaton Rapids Middle School | 6-8 | 418 | 14.4 |
| Greyhound Intermediate School | 3-5 | 358 | 12.8 |
| Lockwood Elementary School | PK-3 | 325 | 14.8 |
| Island City Academy (charter) | K-8 | 197 | 16.4 |
| Greyhound Central Elementary School | PK-K | 115 | 12.8 |
| Greyhound Central Performance Academy | 3-12 | 77 | 19.3 |
Towns near Eaton Rapids
- Eaton Rapids, MI3.4 mi · 3,991 people · home $234,700
- Hamlin, MI3.6 mi · 3,227 people · home $252,800
- Onondaga, MI5.8 mi · 2,997 people · home $267,200
- Aurelius, MI6.2 mi · 4,354 people · home $261,800
- Eaton, MI6.5 mi · 4,007 people · home $215,700
- Windsor, MI8.7 mi · 7,140 people · home $237,300
- Potterville, MI9.5 mi · 3,055 people · home $154,500
- Charlotte, MI10.0 mi · 9,299 people · home $153,900
Eaton Rapids questions
Is Eaton Rapids, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Eaton Rapids scores better for retirees than 6% of Michigan towns and quieter than 8%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.3).
How much does a house cost in Eaton Rapids?
The median owner-occupied home in Eaton Rapids is valued at $155,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,875, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $972 a month.
What is the weather like in Eaton Rapids?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 15.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does Eaton Rapids get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Eaton Rapids since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 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)