The Town FilesGaylord, Michigan
City in Otsego County · population 4,286 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $192,800
- Household income
- $44,701
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 140 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 40.0
Gaylord is a city of 4,286 people in Otsego County, Michigan. The median home is worth $192,800, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Michigan towns, better transit than 93% of Michigan towns.
How Gaylord 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 Gaylord is worth $192,800, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $44,701, which is more affordable than 5% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $977 a month. 30.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gaylord | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $192,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $977 | $955 |
| Median household income | $44,701 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 30.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.0% | — |
Who lives in Gaylord
| People | Gaylord | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Gaylord
July highs average 77.9°F and January lows 10.9°F. About 29.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 140.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaylord since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 20, 2022 about 0.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 20, 2022.
Severe weather in Otsego County since 1996
Otsego County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| January 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
Jobs and pay in Otsego County
Otsego County had 10,703 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,154 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Gaylord itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Gaylord
5 public schools with 2,776 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaylord High SchoolVoc Bldg | 9-12 | 933 | 19.9 |
| Gaylord Intermediate School | 4-6 | 618 | 17.7 |
| Gaylord Middle School | 7-8 | 426 | 18.5 |
| South Maple Elementary School | PK-3 | 404 | 15.5 |
| North Ohio Elementary School | PK-3 | 395 | 14.6 |
Towns near Gaylord
- Bagley, MI2.9 mi · 5,867 people · home $234,300
- Livingston, MI3.9 mi · 2,652 people · home $220,200
- Otsego Lake, MI7.9 mi · 2,857 people · home $218,400
- Hayes, MI8.7 mi · 2,725 people · home $222,300
- Mancelona, MI16.9 mi · 4,311 people · home $159,900
- Boyne City, MI21.0 mi · 3,816 people · home $249,000
- Grayling, MI23.6 mi · 5,642 people · home $163,400
- Bear Creek, MI25.4 mi · 6,542 people · home $364,500
Gaylord questions
Is Gaylord, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gaylord scores better for retirees than 41% of Michigan towns and quieter than 7%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Gaylord?
The median owner-occupied home in Gaylord is valued at $192,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,701, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $977 a month.
What is the weather like in Gaylord?
July highs average 77.9°F and January lows 10.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.5 inches of precipitation a year and 140.3 inches of snow.
Does Gaylord get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gaylord since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022. 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)