The Town FilesL'Anse, Michigan
Township in Baraga County · population 3,551 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $122,700
- Household income
- $54,898
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 208 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 47.3
L'Anse is a township of 3,551 people in Baraga County, Michigan. The median home is worth $122,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 86% of Michigan towns, hipper than 85% of Michigan towns.
- #1 in The 24 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Michigan
- #1 in The 25 Snowiest Small Towns in Michigan
- #2 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #5 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Coolest Summers
- #6 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America
- #6 in The 50 Best Quiet, Affordable Places to Retire in America
How L'Anse 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 L'Anse is worth $122,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $54,898, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $663 a month. 77.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | L'Anse | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $122,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $663 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,898 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.7% | — |
Who lives in L'Anse
| People | L'Anse | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in L'Anse
July highs average 74.8°F and January lows 6.7°F. About 38.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 207.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 199 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of L'Anse since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 22, 1968 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 8, 1980.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 2022.
Severe weather in Baraga County since 1996
Baraga County has been included in 7 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 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| May 6, 2002 | Flood | DR-1413: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Baraga County
Baraga County had 2,973 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,002 a year. Unemployment was 6.2% in 2023; in L'Anse itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Towns near L'Anse
- Baraga, MI13.3 mi · 3,478 people · home $133,300
- Portage, MI23.3 mi · 3,189 people · home $204,700
- Adams, MI29.4 mi · 2,540 people · home $118,000
- Ishpeming, MI29.9 mi · 3,392 people · home $206,400
- Houghton, MI29.9 mi · 8,386 people · home $254,500
L'Anse questions
Is L'Anse, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, L'Anse scores better for retirees than 97% of Michigan towns and quieter than 81%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.3).
How much does a house cost in L'Anse?
The median owner-occupied home in L'Anse is valued at $122,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,898, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $663 a month.
What is the weather like in L'Anse?
July highs average 74.8°F and January lows 6.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.3 inches of precipitation a year and 207.8 inches of snow.
Does L'Anse get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of L'Anse since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 22, 1968. 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)