The Town FilesElsie, Michigan
Village in Clinton County · population 930 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $114,000
- Household income
- $59,318
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 44.1
Elsie is a village of 930 people in Clinton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $114,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 94% of Michigan towns, quieter than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Elsie 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 Elsie is worth $114,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $59,318, which is more affordable than 96% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $700 a month. 82.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elsie | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $114,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $700 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,318 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Elsie
| People | Elsie | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 2.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Elsie
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 17.7°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 40.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsie since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 28, 1986 about 7.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 13, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 12, 2021.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 18,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,866 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Elsie itself the ACS puts it at 24.5%.
Public schools in Elsie
3 public schools with 964 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| OvidElsie High School | 9-12 | 397 | 16.5 |
| OvidElsie Middle School | 6-8 | 319 | 18.8 |
| EE Knight Elementary School | 3-5 | 248 | 15.5 |
Towns near Elsie
- Duplain, MI2.1 mi · 2,303 people · home $162,000
- Fairfield, MI2.7 mi · 652 people · home $192,900
- Elba, MI5.3 mi · 1,293 people · home $127,200
- Ovid, MI6.0 mi · 1,481 people · home $110,600
- Chapin, MI6.0 mi · 928 people · home $114,200
- Middlebury, MI7.0 mi · 1,529 people · home $189,600
- Greenbush, MI7.5 mi · 2,143 people · home $258,800
- Ovid, MI7.6 mi · 2,188 people · home $200,700
Elsie questions
Is Elsie, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elsie scores better for retirees than 39% of Michigan towns and quieter than 89%. 23.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in Elsie?
The median owner-occupied home in Elsie is valued at $114,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,318, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $700 a month.
What is the weather like in Elsie?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 17.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 40.5 inches of snow.
Does Elsie get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elsie since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 28, 1986. 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)