The Town FilesLawton, Michigan
Village in Van Buren County · population 1,850 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $171,100
- Household income
- $52,652
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 39.3
Lawton is a village of 1,850 people in Van Buren County, Michigan. The median home is worth $171,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 79% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Lawton 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 Lawton is worth $171,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $52,652, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $812 a month. 64.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lawton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $812 | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,652 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lawton
| People | Lawton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 8.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lawton
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 129 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1980 about 8.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 7, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Van Buren County since 1996
Van Buren County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 Van Buren County
Van Buren County had 21,597 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,293 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Lawton itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Lawton
4 public schools with 1,040 students, about 17.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton Elementary School | PK-4 | 398 | 13.7 |
| Lawton Middle School | 5-8 | 313 | 18.4 |
| Lawton High School | 8-12 | 292 | 20.9 |
| Lawton Accelerated Academic Center | 5-12 | 37 | — |
Towns near Lawton
- Antwerp, MI3.1 mi · 13,425 people · home $243,400
- Porter, MI3.6 mi · 2,568 people · home $306,800
- Paw Paw, MI4.0 mi · 3,362 people · home $148,200
- Mattawan, MI4.2 mi · 2,550 people · home $181,600
- Paw Paw, MI5.3 mi · 6,881 people · home $197,400
- Decatur, MI5.5 mi · 3,575 people · home $158,000
- Decatur, MI7.8 mi · 1,651 people · home $137,500
- Texas, MI7.8 mi · 17,691 people · home $415,100
Lawton questions
Is Lawton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lawton scores better for retirees than 40% of Michigan towns and quieter than 25%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Lawton?
The median owner-occupied home in Lawton is valued at $171,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,652, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $812 a month.
What is the weather like in Lawton?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 82.8 inches of snow.
Does Lawton get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lawton 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)