The Town FilesGrass Lake, Michigan
Charter township in Jackson County · population 6,069 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $297,300
- Household income
- $95,692
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 42.8
Grass Lake is a charter township of 6,069 people in Jackson County, Michigan. The median home is worth $297,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 98% of Michigan towns, better for families than 93% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Grass Lake 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 Grass Lake is worth $297,300, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $95,692, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $980 a month. 90.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Grass Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $297,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $980 | $955 |
| Median household income | $95,692 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.9% | — |
Who lives in Grass Lake
| People | Grass Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Grass Lake
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.4°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 141 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grass Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 15, 1982 about 9.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 12 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 23, 2015.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 22, 2005.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 55,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,139 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Grass Lake itself the ACS puts it at 1.7%.
Public schools in Grass Lake
1 public school with 307 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grass Lake Middle School | 6-8 | 307 | 16.2 |
Towns near Grass Lake
- Leoni, MI5.7 mi · 13,847 people · home $196,200
- Sylvan, MI6.5 mi · 3,311 people · home $396,200
- Michigan Center, MI6.8 mi · 4,609 people · home $167,100
- Napoleon, MI7.5 mi · 6,789 people · home $229,000
- Waterloo, MI8.3 mi · 2,931 people · home $243,600
- Norvell, MI8.6 mi · 2,800 people · home $278,600
- Chelsea, MI9.8 mi · 5,467 people · home $312,700
- Vandercook Lake, MI10.7 mi · 4,579 people · home $136,600
Grass Lake questions
Is Grass Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Grass Lake scores better for retirees than 76% of Michigan towns and quieter than 27%. 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Grass Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Grass Lake is valued at $297,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,692, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $980 a month.
What is the weather like in Grass Lake?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 32.9 inches of snow.
Does Grass Lake get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Grass Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 15, 1982. 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)