The Town FilesLake City, Michigan
City in Missaukee County · population 829 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,300
- Household income
- $74,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 47.5
Lake City is a city of 829 people in Missaukee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $170,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 81% of Michigan towns, quieter than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Lake 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 Lake City is worth $170,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $74,583, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $710 a month. 84.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $710 | $955 |
| Median household income | $74,583 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 84.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.9% | — |
Who lives in Lake City
| People | Lake City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 2.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 15.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lake City
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 3, 1964 about 0.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 31, 1998.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on October 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Missaukee County since 1996
Missaukee 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Missaukee County
Missaukee County had 4,213 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,075 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Lake City itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Lake City
3 public schools with 1,163 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake City Elementary School | K-5 | 510 | 15.5 |
| Lake City High School | 9-12 | 384 | 16.7 |
| Lake City Middle School | 6-8 | 269 | 16.8 |
Towns near Lake City
- Reeder, MI3.9 mi · 1,199 people · home $168,400
- Forest, MI4.2 mi · 1,184 people · home $164,200
- Lake, MI4.3 mi · 2,827 people · home $230,300
- Caldwell, MI4.5 mi · 1,394 people · home $154,800
- Riverside, MI8.5 mi · 1,124 people · home $206,700
- Richland, MI8.8 mi · 1,489 people · home $197,300
- McBain, MI9.2 mi · 637 people · home $141,700
- Haring, MI9.6 mi · 3,556 people · home $192,500
Lake City questions
Is Lake City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake City scores better for retirees than 65% of Michigan towns and quieter than 70%. 33.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.5).
How much does a house cost in Lake City?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake City is valued at $170,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $74,583, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $710 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake City?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 74.0 inches of snow.
Does Lake City get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 3, 1964. 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)