The Town FilesForester, Michigan
Township in Sanilac County · population 883 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,800
- Household income
- $59,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 58.7
Forester is a township of 883 people in Sanilac County, Michigan. The median home is worth $191,800, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 91% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 88% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Forester 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 Forester is worth $191,800, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $59,583, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. 95.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Forester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,583 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 49.4% | — |
Who lives in Forester
| People | Forester | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 58.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 36.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 19.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 40.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Forester
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 16.1°F. About 35.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forester since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 26, 2025 about 3.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on April 16, 1998.
Severe weather in Sanilac County since 1996
Sanilac County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Sanilac County
Sanilac County had 10,437 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,626 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Forester itself the ACS puts it at 10.4%.
Towns near Forester
- Marion, MI4.6 mi · 1,578 people · home $108,700
- Bridgehampton, MI5.3 mi · 745 people · home $123,400
- Deckerville, MI6.6 mi · 877 people · home $82,100
- Port Sanilac, MI7.7 mi · 567 people · home $158,800
- Sanilac, MI8.6 mi · 2,301 people · home $174,400
- Delaware, MI8.8 mi · 784 people · home $219,400
- Custer, MI10.6 mi · 893 people · home $142,200
- Washington, MI11.1 mi · 1,524 people · home $150,900
Forester questions
Is Forester, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Forester scores better for retirees than 88% of Michigan towns and quieter than 80%. 36.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 58.7).
How much does a house cost in Forester?
The median owner-occupied home in Forester is valued at $191,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,583, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Forester?
July highs average 78.3°F and January lows 16.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.2 inches of snow.
Does Forester get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Forester since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 26, 2025. 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)