The Town FilesHoward City, Michigan
Village in Montcalm County · population 1,835 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,200
- Household income
- $54,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 33.7
Howard City is a village of 1,835 people in Montcalm County, Michigan. The median home is worth $151,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 79% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 78% of Michigan towns.
How Howard City 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 Howard City is worth $151,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $54,688, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $609 a month. 77.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Howard City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $609 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,688 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Howard City
| People | Howard City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Howard City
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howard City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 130 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 1, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 21, 2022.
Severe weather in Montcalm County since 1996
Montcalm County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Montcalm County
Montcalm County had 16,263 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,244 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Howard City itself the ACS puts it at 1.8%.
Public schools in Howard City
2 public schools with 887 students, about 18.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tri County Senior High School | 9-12 | 518 | 18.5 |
| Tri County Middle School | 6-8 | 369 | 17.6 |
Towns near Howard City
- Pierson, MI3.2 mi · 3,363 people · home $243,700
- Reynolds, MI3.6 mi · 5,431 people · home $181,200
- Maple Valley, MI5.0 mi · 1,908 people · home $170,600
- Winfield, MI5.1 mi · 2,279 people · home $234,600
- Morley, MI6.8 mi · 517 people · home $122,500
- Trufant, MI7.6 mi · 510 people · home $123,600
- Sand Lake, MI7.8 mi · 522 people · home $165,600
- Croton, MI8.6 mi · 3,368 people · home $216,700
Howard City questions
Is Howard City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Howard City scores better for retirees than 2% of Michigan towns and quieter than 24%. 15.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Howard City?
The median owner-occupied home in Howard City is valued at $151,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,688, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $609 a month.
What is the weather like in Howard City?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 62.9 inches of snow.
Does Howard City get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Howard City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 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)