The Town FilesLee, Michigan
Township in Calhoun County · population 1,055 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,800
- Household income
- $84,722
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 43.9
Lee is a township of 1,055 people in Calhoun County, Michigan. The median home is worth $212,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 99% of Michigan towns, better for families than 73% of Michigan towns, quieter than 73% of Michigan towns.
How Lee 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 Lee is worth $212,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $84,722, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $857 a month. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lee | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $857 | $955 |
| Median household income | $84,722 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Lee
| People | Lee | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Lee
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1977 about 6.1 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 66 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 9, 1991.
Severe weather in Calhoun County since 1996
Calhoun County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, 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 |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Calhoun County
Calhoun County had 54,415 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,067 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Lee itself the ACS puts it at 9.2%.
Towns near Lee
- Clarence, MI4.7 mi · 1,903 people · home $221,700
- Olivet, MI5.2 mi · 1,517 people · home $154,900
- Walton, MI6.0 mi · 2,293 people · home $221,100
- Marengo, MI6.4 mi · 2,205 people · home $250,000
- Convis, MI6.7 mi · 1,508 people · home $184,400
- Brookfield, MI7.1 mi · 1,467 people · home $217,200
- Sheridan, MI7.6 mi · 1,809 people · home $158,800
- Springport, MI8.7 mi · 776 people · home $99,200
Lee questions
Is Lee, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lee scores better for retirees than 67% of Michigan towns and quieter than 73%. 18.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.9).
How much does a house cost in Lee?
The median owner-occupied home in Lee is valued at $212,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,722, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $857 a month.
What is the weather like in Lee?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 42.6 inches of snow.
Does Lee get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 1977. 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)