The Town FilesEscanaba, Michigan
City in Delta County · population 12,450 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,200
- Household income
- $45,369
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 44.4
Escanaba is a city of 12,450 people in Delta County, Michigan. The median home is worth $125,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 98% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 96% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 96% of Michigan towns.
How Escanaba 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 Escanaba is worth $125,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $45,369, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $657 a month. 63.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Escanaba | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $657 | $955 |
| Median household income | $45,369 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Escanaba
| People | Escanaba | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 11.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Escanaba
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 8.1°F. About 28.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 46.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Escanaba since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1987 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 31, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Delta County since 1996
Delta County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, 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 |
| May 10, 1994 | Freezing | DR-1028: Severe Deep Freeze |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Delta County
Delta County had 13,848 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,978 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Escanaba itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Escanaba
8 public schools with 2,231 students, about 17.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escanaba JuniorSenior High School | 6-12 | 1,091 | 21.4 |
| Escanaba Upper Elementary | 3-5 | 441 | 17.6 |
| Lemmer Elementary School | 1-2 | 287 | 15.1 |
| Webster Kindergarten Center | K-K | 226 | 15.1 |
| Escanaba Student Success Center | 8-12 | 86 | 86.0 |
| Learning Center | PK-12 | 72 | 9.0 |
| Bay Pines Center | 6-12 | 28 | — |
| DeltaSchoolcraft Area Center | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Escanaba
- Wells, MI5.0 mi · 4,876 people · home $177,000
- Gladstone, MI7.7 mi · 5,257 people · home $118,600
- Escanaba, MI8.3 mi · 3,496 people · home $173,800
Escanaba questions
Is Escanaba, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Escanaba scores better for retirees than 35% of Michigan towns and quieter than 13%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Escanaba?
The median owner-occupied home in Escanaba is valued at $125,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $45,369, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $657 a month.
What is the weather like in Escanaba?
July highs average 76.6°F and January lows 8.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.8 inches of precipitation a year and 46.9 inches of snow.
Does Escanaba get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Escanaba since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1987. 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)