The Town FilesFree Soil, Michigan
Township in Mason County · population 842 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $220,900
- Household income
- $62,344
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 108 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 44.8
Free Soil is a township of 842 people in Mason County, Michigan. The median home is worth $220,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns, quieter than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Free Soil 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 Free Soil is worth $220,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $62,344, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 93.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Free Soil | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $220,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $842 | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,344 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.2% | — |
Who lives in Free Soil
| People | Free Soil | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 45.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Free Soil
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 107.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Free Soil since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on June 12, 2008 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 12, 1973.
Severe weather in Mason County since 1996
Mason County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Mason County
Mason County had 10,186 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,523 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Free Soil itself the ACS puts it at 0.5%.
Towns near Free Soil
- Stronach, MI6.1 mi · 834 people · home $165,600
- Sherman, MI6.1 mi · 1,127 people · home $177,100
- Filer, MI7.0 mi · 2,318 people · home $247,200
- Grant, MI7.5 mi · 925 people · home $252,100
- Oak Hill, MI7.8 mi · 545 people · home $126,900
- Sheridan, MI7.9 mi · 1,044 people · home $172,600
- Victory, MI8.8 mi · 1,406 people · home $300,000
- Manistee, MI9.9 mi · 6,259 people · home $164,100
Free Soil questions
Is Free Soil, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Free Soil scores better for retirees than 66% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Free Soil?
The median owner-occupied home in Free Soil is valued at $220,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,344, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in Free Soil?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 107.7 inches of snow.
Does Free Soil get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Free Soil since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on June 12, 2008. 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)