The Town FilesIron River, Michigan
Township in Iron County · population 1,052 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,600
- Household income
- $55,655
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 99 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 59.6
Iron River is a township of 1,052 people in Iron County, Michigan. The median home is worth $153,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 85% of Michigan towns, hipper than 83% of Michigan towns, quieter than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Iron River 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 River is worth $153,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,655, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $500 a month. 90.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Iron River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $500 | $955 |
| Median household income | $55,655 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 38.9% | — |
Who lives in Iron River
| People | Iron River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Iron River
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 0.3°F. About 30.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 99.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 211 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Iron River since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 29, 2014.
Severe weather in Iron County since 1996
Iron County has been included in 7 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 |
| May 6, 2002 | Flood | DR-1413: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Iron County
Iron County had 3,410 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,921 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in Iron River itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Towns near Iron River
- Stambaugh, MI3.7 mi · 1,200 people · home $188,100
- Bates, MI8.2 mi · 925 people · home $163,200
- Iron River, MI12.6 mi · 3,007 people · home $85,000
- Caspian, MI14.6 mi · 805 people · home $79,100
- Phelps, WI19.1 mi · 1,238 people · home $240,100
- Watersmeet, MI20.1 mi · 1,456 people · home $264,800
- Crystal Falls, MI22.8 mi · 1,647 people · home $180,900
- Crystal Falls, MI24.8 mi · 1,598 people · home $83,300
Iron River questions
Is Iron River, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Iron River scores better for retirees than 85% of Michigan towns and quieter than 81%. 40.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.6).
How much does a house cost in Iron River?
The median owner-occupied home in Iron River is valued at $153,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,655, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $500 a month.
What is the weather like in Iron River?
July highs average 77.0°F and January lows 0.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.5 inches of precipitation a year and 99.2 inches of snow.
Does Iron River get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Iron River in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)