The Town FilesEly, Michigan
Township in Marquette County · population 1,900 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $196,300
- Household income
- $100,104
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 118 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 39.7
Ely is a township of 1,900 people in Marquette County, Michigan. The median home is worth $196,300, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of Michigan towns, quieter than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Ely 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 Ely is worth $196,300, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $100,104, which is more affordable than 94% of Michigan towns. 96.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ely | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $100,104 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.6% | — |
Who lives in Ely
| People | Ely | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ely
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 2.2°F. About 30.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 117.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 219 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ely since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 24, 2016 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 24, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 21, 2012.
Severe weather in Marquette County since 1996
Marquette County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marquette County
Marquette County had 26,385 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,658 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Ely itself the ACS puts it at 2.6%.
Towns near Ely
- West Ishpeming, MI6.5 mi · 2,552 people · home $193,900
- Ishpeming, MI7.3 mi · 6,140 people · home $111,900
- Tilden, MI7.7 mi · 1,045 people · home $142,500
- Negaunee, MI11.7 mi · 4,627 people · home $170,100
- Richmond, MI12.3 mi · 806 people · home $103,100
- Republic, MI13.3 mi · 994 people · home $106,700
- Ishpeming, MI15.4 mi · 3,392 people · home $206,400
- Negaunee, MI15.5 mi · 3,232 people · home $302,400
Ely questions
Is Ely, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ely scores better for retirees than 46% of Michigan towns and quieter than 79%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.7).
How much does a house cost in Ely?
The median owner-occupied home in Ely is valued at $196,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,104, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Ely?
July highs average 78.4°F and January lows 2.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 117.8 inches of snow.
Does Ely get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ely since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 24, 2016. 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)