The Town FilesElk, Michigan
Township in Lake County · population 940 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,900
- Household income
- $56,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 120 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 63.3
Elk is a township of 940 people in Lake County, Michigan. The median home is worth $181,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 96% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 74% of Michigan towns.
How Elk 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 Elk is worth $181,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $56,438, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. 97.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elk | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $56,438 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 64.1% | — |
Who lives in Elk
| People | Elk | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 43.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 2.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 16.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Elk
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 119.6 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
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elk since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 8, 1985 about 7.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 1985.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 9 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 Lake County
Lake County had 1,721 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,827 a year. Unemployment was 7% in 2023; in Elk itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Towns near Elk
- Norman, MI5.7 mi · 1,567 people · home $156,900
- Sheridan, MI7.5 mi · 1,044 people · home $172,600
- Stronach, MI10.4 mi · 834 people · home $165,600
- Newkirk, MI11.6 mi · 655 people · home $110,600
- Free Soil, MI11.7 mi · 842 people · home $220,900
- Dickson, MI12.1 mi · 980 people · home $157,400
- Sherman, MI13.2 mi · 1,127 people · home $177,100
- Webber, MI13.2 mi · 2,384 people · home $108,500
Elk questions
Is Elk, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elk scores better for retirees than 42% of Michigan towns and quieter than 96%. 43.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.3).
How much does a house cost in Elk?
The median owner-occupied home in Elk is valued at $181,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,438, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Elk?
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 119.6 inches of snow.
Does Elk get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Elk since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 8, 1985. 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)