The Town FilesEllsworth, Michigan
Township in Lake County · population 736 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $131,300
- Household income
- $53,333
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 92 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 56.1
Ellsworth is a township of 736 people in Lake County, Michigan. The median home is worth $131,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 98% of Michigan towns, better transit than 85% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Ellsworth 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 Ellsworth is worth $131,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $53,333, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,057 a month. 84.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ellsworth | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $131,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,057 | $955 |
| Median household income | $53,333 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 40.8% | — |
Who lives in Ellsworth
| People | Ellsworth | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ellsworth
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 92.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellsworth since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1985 about 5.9 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 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 8, 2003.
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 Ellsworth itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near Ellsworth
- Le Roy, MI5.9 mi · 1,246 people · home $187,700
- Pinora, MI6.2 mi · 757 people · home $123,900
- Newkirk, MI7.8 mi · 655 people · home $110,600
- Lincoln, MI8.1 mi · 1,462 people · home $151,900
- Burdell, MI8.7 mi · 1,410 people · home $187,500
- Rose Lake, MI11.8 mi · 1,406 people · home $175,200
- Reed City, MI11.9 mi · 2,490 people · home $115,000
- Chase, MI12.5 mi · 1,153 people · home $185,400
Ellsworth questions
Is Ellsworth, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ellsworth scores better for retirees than 37% of Michigan towns and quieter than 98%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.1).
How much does a house cost in Ellsworth?
The median owner-occupied home in Ellsworth is valued at $131,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,333, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $1,057 a month.
What is the weather like in Ellsworth?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 92.2 inches of snow.
Does Ellsworth get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ellsworth since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 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)