The Town FilesElba, Michigan
Township in Lapeer County · population 5,235 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $261,200
- Household income
- $82,994
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 52.2
Elba is a township of 5,235 people in Lapeer County, Michigan. The median home is worth $261,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 97% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Elba 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 Elba is worth $261,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $82,994, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,159 a month. 94.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elba | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $261,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,159 | $955 |
| Median household income | $82,994 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Elba
| People | Elba | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Elba
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 36.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 34.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elba since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 12, 1956 about 8.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 116 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2023.
Severe weather in Lapeer County since 1996
Lapeer County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| 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 |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Lapeer County
Lapeer County had 21,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,778 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Elba itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Elba
- Lapeer, MI3.9 mi · 9,023 people · home $178,400
- Oregon, MI5.1 mi · 5,712 people · home $236,400
- Lapeer, MI6.2 mi · 4,956 people · home $254,100
- Hadley, MI6.2 mi · 4,547 people · home $356,100
- Davison, MI6.3 mi · 20,434 people · home $231,700
- Davison, MI6.5 mi · 5,143 people · home $181,200
- Mayfield, MI8.1 mi · 7,988 people · home $188,100
- Metamora, MI8.2 mi · 4,368 people · home $383,000
Elba questions
Is Elba, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elba scores better for retirees than 61% of Michigan towns and quieter than 57%. 24.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.2).
How much does a house cost in Elba?
The median owner-occupied home in Elba is valued at $261,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,994, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,159 a month.
What is the weather like in Elba?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.1 inches of precipitation a year and 34.4 inches of snow.
Does Elba get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elba since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 12, 1956. 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)