The Town FilesLake, Michigan
Township in Benzie County · population 694 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $650,000
- Household income
- $98,125
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 93 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 66.4
Lake is a township of 694 people in Benzie County, Michigan. The median home is worth $650,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 94% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Michigan towns, better transit than 94% of Michigan towns.
How Lake 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 Lake is worth $650,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $98,125, which is more affordable than 0% of Michigan towns. 97.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $650,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $98,125 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 68.7% | — |
Who lives in Lake
| People | Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 66.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 57.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 5.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 74.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 23.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lake
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 18.5°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 93.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 138 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on October 15, 1989 about 2.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 15, 1989.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
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 Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Lake
- Benzonia, MI4.0 mi · 2,734 people · home $327,000
- Crystal Lake, MI5.5 mi · 1,065 people · home $348,800
- Frankfort, MI6.7 mi · 1,252 people · home $350,000
- Benzonia, MI6.9 mi · 551 people · home $209,100
- Gilmore, MI8.3 mi · 791 people · home $301,100
- Homestead, MI9.1 mi · 2,329 people · home $226,200
- Empire, MI9.9 mi · 1,126 people · home $452,500
- Joyfield, MI12.0 mi · 763 people · home $220,800
Lake questions
Is Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake scores better for retirees than 94% of Michigan towns and quieter than 90%. 57.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 66.4).
How much does a house cost in Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake is valued at $650,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,125, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake?
July highs average 77.4°F and January lows 18.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 93.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on October 15, 1989. 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)