The Town FilesHandy, Michigan
Township in Livingston County · population 8,602 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $250,400
- Household income
- $78,542
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 33 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 39.4
Handy is a township of 8,602 people in Livingston County, Michigan. The median home is worth $250,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 88% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 76% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Handy 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 Handy is worth $250,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $78,542, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,070 a month. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Handy | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $250,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,070 | $955 |
| Median household income | $78,542 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Handy
| People | Handy | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Handy
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Handy since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 24, 2023 about 3.2 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 5 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on July 26, 1978.
Severe weather in Livingston County since 1996
Livingston County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Livingston County
Livingston County had 64,380 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,015 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Handy itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Towns near Handy
- Fowlerville, MI2.0 mi · 2,951 people · home $192,000
- Iosco, MI5.4 mi · 3,870 people · home $319,500
- Howell, MI5.8 mi · 7,893 people · home $276,400
- Leroy, MI6.5 mi · 3,791 people · home $193,200
- Conway, MI7.4 mi · 3,608 people · home $285,500
- Howell, MI7.9 mi · 10,068 people · home $265,600
- Marion, MI8.0 mi · 11,245 people · home $381,100
- Cohoctah, MI9.0 mi · 3,246 people · home $347,400
Handy questions
Is Handy, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Handy scores better for retirees than 9% of Michigan towns and quieter than 32%. 15.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.4).
How much does a house cost in Handy?
The median owner-occupied home in Handy is valued at $250,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,542, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,070 a month.
What is the weather like in Handy?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 33.2 inches of snow.
Does Handy get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Handy since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 24, 2023. 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)