The Town FilesGolden, Michigan
Township in Oceana County · population 1,660 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $264,700
- Household income
- $67,426
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 79 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 60.0
Golden is a township of 1,660 people in Oceana County, Michigan. The median home is worth $264,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 98% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Golden 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 Golden is worth $264,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $67,426, which is more affordable than 9% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,033 a month. 91.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Golden | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,033 | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,426 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 62.3% | — |
Who lives in Golden
| People | Golden | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Golden
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 78.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 28, 1991 about 3.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 8, 2011.
Severe weather in Oceana County since 1996
Oceana County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 Oceana County
Oceana County had 6,470 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,679 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Golden itself the ACS puts it at 12.8%.
Towns near Golden
- Hart, MI4.3 mi · 2,053 people · home $140,900
- Pentwater, MI5.6 mi · 1,652 people · home $378,600
- Hart, MI5.9 mi · 2,028 people · home $192,400
- Benona, MI6.0 mi · 1,425 people · home $248,600
- Pentwater, MI6.3 mi · 890 people · home $344,300
- Shelby, MI6.9 mi · 1,964 people · home $155,600
- Weare, MI8.1 mi · 1,224 people · home $173,500
- Shelby, MI8.4 mi · 4,109 people · home $180,800
Golden questions
Is Golden, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Golden scores better for retirees than 54% of Michigan towns and quieter than 98%. 33.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.0).
How much does a house cost in Golden?
The median owner-occupied home in Golden is valued at $264,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,426, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,033 a month.
What is the weather like in Golden?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 78.5 inches of snow.
Does Golden get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Golden since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 28, 1991. 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)