The Town FilesLake Isabella, Michigan
Village in Isabella County · population 1,829 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $184,000
- Household income
- $77,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 61 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 48.1
Lake Isabella is a village of 1,829 people in Isabella County, Michigan. The median home is worth $184,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 87% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 78% of Michigan towns.
How Lake Isabella 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 Isabella is worth $184,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $77,500, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $964 a month. 94.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Isabella | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $184,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $964 | $955 |
| Median household income | $77,500 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.9% | — |
Who lives in Lake Isabella
| People | Lake Isabella | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lake Isabella
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 61.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 146 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Isabella since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 12, 1956 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 27, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Isabella County since 1996
Isabella County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4326: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Isabella County
Isabella County had 26,640 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,992 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Lake Isabella itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Towns near Lake Isabella
- Sherman, MI2.9 mi · 3,127 people · home $157,400
- Broomfield, MI3.3 mi · 1,857 people · home $196,400
- Weidman, MI4.4 mi · 920 people · home —
- Nottawa, MI5.4 mi · 2,225 people · home $199,400
- Deerfield, MI6.1 mi · 3,257 people · home $237,000
- Sheridan, MI6.5 mi · 1,314 people · home $156,200
- Wheatland, MI7.8 mi · 1,396 people · home $188,800
- Coldwater, MI9.0 mi · 801 people · home $158,300
Lake Isabella questions
Is Lake Isabella, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Isabella scores better for retirees than 60% of Michigan towns and quieter than 61%. 26.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.1).
How much does a house cost in Lake Isabella?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Isabella is valued at $184,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,500, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $964 a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Isabella?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 61.3 inches of snow.
Does Lake Isabella get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Isabella since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 12, 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)