The Town FilesGladstone, Michigan
City in Delta County · population 5,257 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $118,600
- Household income
- $54,970
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 43.8
Gladstone is a city of 5,257 people in Delta County, Michigan. The median home is worth $118,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 94% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 90% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 85% of Michigan towns.
How Gladstone 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 Gladstone is worth $118,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $54,970, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $910 a month. 81.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gladstone | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $118,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $910 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,970 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.0% | — |
Who lives in Gladstone
| People | Gladstone | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Gladstone
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 31.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 189 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gladstone 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 1.6 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 21 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 20, 2026.
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 Gladstone itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Public schools in Gladstone
4 public schools with 1,478 students, about 18.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gladstone Area High School | 9-12 | 445 | 20.2 |
| James T Jones Elementary School | 3-5 | 365 | 19.2 |
| Cameron Elementary School | K-2 | 339 | 15.4 |
| Gladstone Area Middle School | 6-8 | 329 | 20.6 |
Towns near Gladstone
- Escanaba, MI6.7 mi · 3,496 people · home $173,800
- Escanaba, MI7.7 mi · 12,450 people · home $125,200
- Wells, MI8.5 mi · 4,876 people · home $177,000
Gladstone questions
Is Gladstone, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gladstone scores better for retirees than 48% of Michigan towns and quieter than 21%. 23.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.8).
How much does a house cost in Gladstone?
The median owner-occupied home in Gladstone is valued at $118,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,970, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $910 a month.
What is the weather like in Gladstone?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.3 inches of precipitation a year and 42.6 inches of snow.
Does Gladstone get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gladstone 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)