The Town FilesLakes of the North, Michigan
Community in Antrim County · population 1,044 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,100
- Household income
- $82,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 149 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 45.3
Lakes of the North is a community of 1,044 people in Antrim County, Michigan. The median home is worth $232,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 78% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Lakes of the North 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 Lakes of the North is worth $232,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $82,188, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. 93.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lakes of the North | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $82,188 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 43.1% | — |
Who lives in Lakes of the North
| People | Lakes of the North | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 40.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lakes of the North
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 12.0°F. About 37.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 148.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakes of the North since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 20, 2022 about 4.4 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 46 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 20, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 20, 2022.
Severe weather in Antrim County since 1996
Antrim 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 |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Antrim County
Antrim County had 5,128 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,968 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Lakes of the North itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Lakes of the North
- Star, MI3.9 mi · 1,028 people · home $192,700
- Hayes, MI4.3 mi · 2,725 people · home $222,300
- Mancelona, MI5.2 mi · 4,311 people · home $159,900
- Chestonia, MI8.5 mi · 512 people · home $113,500
- Mancelona, MI8.8 mi · 1,344 people · home $131,400
- Otsego Lake, MI10.7 mi · 2,857 people · home $218,400
- Coldsprings, MI10.9 mi · 1,551 people · home $188,500
- Elmira, MI11.2 mi · 1,714 people · home $250,600
Lakes of the North questions
Is Lakes of the North, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lakes of the North scores better for retirees than 9% of Michigan towns and quieter than 51%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Lakes of the North?
The median owner-occupied home in Lakes of the North is valued at $232,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $82,188, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Lakes of the North?
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 12.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.2 inches of precipitation a year and 148.8 inches of snow.
Does Lakes of the North get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakes of the North since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 20, 2022. 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)