The Town FilesElmira, Michigan
Township in Otsego County · population 1,714 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,600
- Household income
- $82,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 140 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 43.2
Elmira is a township of 1,714 people in Otsego County, Michigan. The median home is worth $250,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of Michigan towns, better for families than 88% of Michigan towns.
How Elmira 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 Elmira is worth $250,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $82,143, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,375 a month. 95.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elmira | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,375 | $955 |
| Median household income | $82,143 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1992 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.4% | — |
Who lives in Elmira
| People | Elmira | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Elmira
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 8.4°F. About 36.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 140.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmira since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 20, 2022 about 5.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 20, 2022.
Severe weather in Otsego County since 1996
Otsego County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| January 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
Jobs and pay in Otsego County
Otsego County had 10,703 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,154 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Elmira itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Towns near Elmira
- Hudson, MI5.4 mi · 671 people · home $222,200
- Livingston, MI5.9 mi · 2,652 people · home $220,200
- Boyne Valley, MI6.0 mi · 1,425 people · home $203,300
- Gaylord, MI7.0 mi · 4,286 people · home $192,800
- Star, MI9.1 mi · 1,028 people · home $192,700
- Bagley, MI9.8 mi · 5,867 people · home $234,300
- Hayes, MI10.8 mi · 2,725 people · home $222,300
- Lakes of the North, MI11.2 mi · 1,044 people · home $232,100
Elmira questions
Is Elmira, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elmira scores better for retirees than 64% of Michigan towns and quieter than 39%. 22.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.2).
How much does a house cost in Elmira?
The median owner-occupied home in Elmira is valued at $250,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,143, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,375 a month.
What is the weather like in Elmira?
July highs average 77.3°F and January lows 8.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.9 inches of precipitation a year and 140.3 inches of snow.
Does Elmira get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elmira since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022. 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)