The Town FilesIron Mountain, Michigan
City in Dickinson County · population 7,518 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,600
- Household income
- $59,405
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 43.5
Iron Mountain is a city of 7,518 people in Dickinson County, Michigan. The median home is worth $141,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 91% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 91% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Iron Mountain 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 Iron Mountain is worth $141,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $59,405, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 72.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Iron Mountain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $744 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,405 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Iron Mountain
| People | Iron Mountain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 12.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Iron Mountain
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 20.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iron Mountain since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 11, 1987 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 27, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Dickinson County since 1996
Dickinson County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| March 2, 1977 | Drought | EM-3035: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Dickinson County
Dickinson County had 13,798 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,141 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Iron Mountain itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Iron Mountain
5 public schools with 796 students, about 19.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Elementary School | K-4 | 259 | 17.3 |
| Iron Mountain High School | 9-12 | 237 | 21.5 |
| IMK Community Education | K-12 | 106 | 26.5 |
| East Elementary School | 5-6 | 100 | 16.7 |
| Central Middle School | 7-8 | 94 | 23.5 |
Towns near Iron Mountain
- Kingsford, MI2.4 mi · 5,139 people · home $132,100
- Breitung, MI3.9 mi · 5,831 people · home $175,300
- Norway, MI7.3 mi · 2,840 people · home $91,100
Iron Mountain questions
Is Iron Mountain, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Iron Mountain scores better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns and quieter than 27%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.5).
How much does a house cost in Iron Mountain?
The median owner-occupied home in Iron Mountain is valued at $141,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,405, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Iron Mountain?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 20.8 inches of precipitation a year and 61.0 inches of snow.
Does Iron Mountain get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Iron Mountain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 11, 1987. 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)