The Town FilesHay, Michigan
Township in Gladwin County · population 1,279 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $150,300
- Household income
- $64,432
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 54.5
Hay is a township of 1,279 people in Gladwin County, Michigan. The median home is worth $150,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 95% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 73% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Michigan towns.
How Hay 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 Hay is worth $150,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $64,432, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $947 a month. 92.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $150,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $947 | $955 |
| Median household income | $64,432 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 40.8% | — |
Who lives in Hay
| People | Hay | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 29.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 17.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 39.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Hay
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hay since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 7, 1955 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2001.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on July 21, 1983.
Severe weather in Gladwin County since 1996
Gladwin County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 21, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | EM-3525: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4326: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Gladwin County
Gladwin County had 4,593 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,143 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Hay itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Towns near Hay
- Buckeye, MI4.0 mi · 1,360 people · home $139,800
- Billings, MI5.8 mi · 2,318 people · home $166,300
- Gladwin, MI7.0 mi · 1,118 people · home $171,400
- Secord, MI7.1 mi · 1,046 people · home $219,300
- Tobacco, MI7.7 mi · 2,459 people · home $173,700
- Gladwin, MI7.8 mi · 3,069 people · home $126,900
- Bentley, MI7.9 mi · 829 people · home $153,200
- Beaverton, MI8.9 mi · 1,145 people · home $109,000
Hay questions
Is Hay, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hay scores better for retirees than 51% of Michigan towns and quieter than 95%. 29.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.5).
How much does a house cost in Hay?
The median owner-occupied home in Hay is valued at $150,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,432, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $947 a month.
What is the weather like in Hay?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 48.5 inches of snow.
Does Hay get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 7, 1955. 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)