The Town FilesLake, Michigan
Township in Menominee County · population 501 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,600
- Household income
- $57,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 56.8
Lake is a township of 501 people in Menominee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $160,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of Michigan towns, quieter than 86% 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 $160,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $57,500, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. 95.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $57,500 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 48.8% | — |
Who lives in Lake
| People | Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 8.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 73.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lake
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 4.0°F. About 32.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 28, 1991 about 4.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 15, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on July 11, 1969.
Severe weather in Menominee County since 1996
Menominee County has been included in 8 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 |
| August 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4381: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Menominee County
Menominee County had 7,149 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,080 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Lake itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Lake
- Wagner, WI6.4 mi · 653 people · home $180,400
- Stephenson, MI7.2 mi · 816 people · home $101,800
- Mellen, MI8.4 mi · 1,109 people · home $207,700
- Wausaukee, WI9.3 mi · 1,097 people · home $227,600
- Wausaukee, WI9.9 mi · 596 people · home $98,300
- Amberg, WI10.5 mi · 693 people · home $134,200
- Stephenson, MI10.7 mi · 616 people · home $173,800
- Daggett, MI11.0 mi · 614 people · home $148,300
Lake questions
Is Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake scores better for retirees than 69% of Michigan towns and quieter than 86%. 31.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.8).
How much does a house cost in Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake is valued at $160,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,500, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake?
July highs average 79.3°F and January lows 4.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.1 inches of precipitation a year and 57.3 inches of snow.
Does Lake get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 28, 1991. 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)