The Town FilesElmer, Michigan
Township in Oscoda County · population 1,150 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $173,200
- Household income
- $62,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 39.4
Elmer is a township of 1,150 people in Oscoda County, Michigan. The median home is worth $173,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 94% of Michigan towns, quieter than 88% of Michigan towns.
How Elmer 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 Elmer is worth $173,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $62,386, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $678 a month. 93.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $173,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $678 | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,386 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1984 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 45.3% | — |
Who lives in Elmer
| People | Elmer | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 48.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Elmer
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 10.7°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 180 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmer since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 18, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Oscoda County since 1996
Oscoda County has been included in 8 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 |
| 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 Oscoda County
Oscoda County had 1,364 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $40,287 a year. Unemployment was 7.6% in 2023; in Elmer itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near Elmer
- Mio, MI6.5 mi · 1,690 people · home $90,600
- Greenwood, MI7.0 mi · 1,158 people · home $143,000
- Comins, MI7.8 mi · 1,839 people · home $120,800
- Albert, MI10.1 mi · 2,453 people · home $170,200
- Lewiston, MI10.7 mi · 996 people · home $169,800
- Big Creek, MI11.3 mi · 2,604 people · home $111,700
- Mentor, MI12.7 mi · 1,037 people · home $112,700
- Lovells, MI14.5 mi · 567 people · home $204,300
Elmer questions
Is Elmer, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmer scores better for retirees than 31% of Michigan towns and quieter than 88%. 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Elmer?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmer is valued at $173,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,386, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $678 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmer?
July highs average 80.9°F and January lows 10.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 57.0 inches of snow.
Does Elmer get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmer since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2007. 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)