The Town FilesLake Michigan Beach, Michigan
Community in Berrien County · population 1,101 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $255,800
- Household income
- $56,809
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 51.4
Lake Michigan Beach is a community of 1,101 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $255,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 82% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 78% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 73% of Michigan towns.
How Lake Michigan Beach 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 Michigan Beach is worth $255,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $56,809, which is more affordable than 4% of Michigan towns. 88.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lake Michigan Beach | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $255,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $56,809 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 88.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 33.7% | — |
Who lives in Lake Michigan Beach
| People | Lake Michigan Beach | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 33.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lake Michigan Beach
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Michigan Beach since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1980 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 24, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on October 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Lake Michigan Beach itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Towns near Lake Michigan Beach
- Hagar, MI1.0 mi · 3,243 people · home $237,700
- Coloma, MI3.6 mi · 5,051 people · home $203,700
- Coloma, MI3.7 mi · 1,465 people · home $177,100
- Paw Paw Lake, MI5.2 mi · 3,323 people · home $191,700
- Millburg, MI5.7 mi · 578 people · home $136,500
- Benton Heights, MI6.1 mi · 3,652 people · home $97,700
- Watervliet, MI6.2 mi · 1,669 people · home $137,500
- Benton, MI6.4 mi · 14,374 people · home $148,700
Lake Michigan Beach questions
Is Lake Michigan Beach, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lake Michigan Beach scores better for retirees than 39% of Michigan towns and quieter than 23%. 34.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.4).
How much does a house cost in Lake Michigan Beach?
The median owner-occupied home in Lake Michigan Beach is valued at $255,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $56,809, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lake Michigan Beach?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 77.7 inches of snow.
Does Lake Michigan Beach get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lake Michigan Beach since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 13, 1980. 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)