The Town FilesGarfield, Michigan
Township in Mackinac County · population 1,166 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,000
- Household income
- $52,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 99 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 53.5
Garfield is a township of 1,166 people in Mackinac County, Michigan. The median home is worth $176,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 96% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 91% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Garfield 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 Garfield is worth $176,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $52,917, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $818 a month. 80.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $818 | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,917 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.0% | — |
Who lives in Garfield
| People | Garfield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Garfield
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.7°F. About 33.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 98.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 16, 1988 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 16, 1988.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 29, 2024.
Severe weather in Mackinac County since 1996
Mackinac County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Mackinac County
Mackinac County had 4,836 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,728 a year. Unemployment was 8.9% in 2023; in Garfield itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Garfield
1 public school with 252 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engadine Schools | PK-12 | 252 | 14.8 |
Towns near Garfield
- Pentland, MI8.5 mi · 1,564 people · home $133,500
- Newberry, MI11.9 mi · 1,446 people · home $68,500
- Portage, MI13.0 mi · 907 people · home $213,800
- Lakefield, MI13.0 mi · 1,135 people · home $172,700
- McMillan, MI22.8 mi · 2,471 people · home $76,100
- Doyle, MI26.5 mi · 563 people · home $198,400
- Moran, MI28.4 mi · 1,029 people · home $230,300
Garfield questions
Is Garfield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Garfield scores better for retirees than 91% of Michigan towns and quieter than 96%. 31.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.5).
How much does a house cost in Garfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Garfield is valued at $176,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,917, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $818 a month.
What is the weather like in Garfield?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 98.5 inches of snow.
Does Garfield get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Garfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 16, 1988. 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)