The Town FilesHomestead, Michigan
Township in Benzie County · population 2,329 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $226,200
- Household income
- $62,061
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 102 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 45.9
Homestead is a township of 2,329 people in Benzie County, Michigan. The median home is worth $226,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 90% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Michigan towns, better transit than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Homestead 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 Homestead is worth $226,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $62,061, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $917 a month. 90.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Homestead | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $917 | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,061 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 20.1% | — |
Who lives in Homestead
| People | Homestead | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Homestead
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 102.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Homestead since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 10.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 15, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on October 3, 2006.
Severe weather in Benzie County since 1996
Benzie County has been included in 6 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Benzie County
Benzie County had 4,882 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,619 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Homestead itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Towns near Homestead
- Inland, MI5.5 mi · 2,386 people · home $263,800
- Weldon, MI6.0 mi · 579 people · home $237,000
- Benzonia, MI6.1 mi · 551 people · home $209,100
- Benzonia, MI6.6 mi · 2,734 people · home $327,000
- Almira, MI8.0 mi · 3,873 people · home $284,600
- Colfax, MI8.8 mi · 677 people · home $166,300
- Joyfield, MI9.1 mi · 763 people · home $220,800
- Lake, MI9.1 mi · 694 people · home $650,000
Homestead questions
Is Homestead, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Homestead scores better for retirees than 72% of Michigan towns and quieter than 73%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.9).
How much does a house cost in Homestead?
The median owner-occupied home in Homestead is valued at $226,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,061, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $917 a month.
What is the weather like in Homestead?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 17.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 102.1 inches of snow.
Does Homestead get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Homestead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. 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)