The Town FilesHayes, Michigan
Township in Charlevoix County · population 2,000 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,000
- Household income
- $82,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 100 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 50.6
Hayes is a township of 2,000 people in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The median home is worth $247,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Michigan towns, quieter than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Hayes 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 Hayes is worth $247,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $82,083, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,404 a month. 89.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hayes | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,404 | $955 |
| Median household income | $82,083 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.3% | — |
Who lives in Hayes
| People | Hayes | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Hayes
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 33.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 100.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hayes since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 6, 1955 about 9.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 6, 1955.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 8, 1966.
Severe weather in Charlevoix County since 1996
Charlevoix County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County had 10,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Hayes itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Hayes
- Bay Shore, MI3.1 mi · 687 people · home $153,600
- Bay, MI5.2 mi · 1,142 people · home $368,000
- Charlevoix, MI5.3 mi · 2,348 people · home $331,500
- Eveline, MI5.4 mi · 1,515 people · home $459,100
- Resort, MI6.3 mi · 2,835 people · home $394,500
- Charlevoix, MI6.4 mi · 1,763 people · home $307,000
- Petoskey, MI7.2 mi · 5,877 people · home $364,100
- Marion, MI7.7 mi · 1,657 people · home $271,600
Hayes questions
Is Hayes, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hayes scores better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns and quieter than 90%. 24.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.6).
How much does a house cost in Hayes?
The median owner-occupied home in Hayes is valued at $247,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,083, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,404 a month.
What is the weather like in Hayes?
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.7 inches of precipitation a year and 100.2 inches of snow.
Does Hayes get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hayes since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 6, 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)