The Town FilesHartwick, Michigan
Township in Osceola County · population 591 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,000
- Household income
- $67,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 39.5
Hartwick is a township of 591 people in Osceola County, Michigan. The median home is worth $160,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 95% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of Michigan towns.
How Hartwick 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 Hartwick is worth $160,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $67,143, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. 93.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hartwick | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,143 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 31.2% | — |
Who lives in Hartwick
| People | Hartwick | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 71.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Hartwick
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 69.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartwick since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 27, 1991 about 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on March 30, 1976.
Severe weather in Osceola County since 1996
Osceola County has been included in 14 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 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Osceola County
Osceola County had 8,011 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,080 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Hartwick itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Hartwick
- Osceola, MI4.5 mi · 943 people · home $154,000
- Middle Branch, MI5.4 mi · 775 people · home $139,100
- Rose Lake, MI6.2 mi · 1,406 people · home $175,200
- Highland, MI7.0 mi · 1,148 people · home $189,700
- Marion, MI7.8 mi · 789 people · home $110,900
- Sylvan, MI8.3 mi · 967 people · home $119,000
- Evart, MI8.6 mi · 1,742 people · home $105,500
- Marion, MI8.8 mi · 1,565 people · home $125,000
Hartwick questions
Is Hartwick, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hartwick scores better for retirees than 67% of Michigan towns and quieter than 59%. 24.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.5).
How much does a house cost in Hartwick?
The median owner-occupied home in Hartwick is valued at $160,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,143, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Hartwick?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 69.0 inches of snow.
Does Hartwick get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hartwick since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 27, 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)