The Town FilesLudington, Michigan
City in Mason County · population 7,655 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,100
- Household income
- $46,411
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 79 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 45.3
Ludington is a city of 7,655 people in Mason County, Michigan. The median home is worth $201,100, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 98% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 96% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Ludington 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 Ludington is worth $201,100, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $46,411, which is more affordable than 5% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $902 a month. 59.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ludington | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $902 | $955 |
| Median household income | $46,411 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 59.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.0% | — |
Who lives in Ludington
| People | Ludington | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ludington
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 36.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 78.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ludington since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on August 15, 1966 about 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 15, 1966.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Mason County since 1996
Mason County has been included in 9 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 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Mason County
Mason County had 10,186 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,523 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Ludington itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Ludington
6 public schools with 2,221 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ludington Elementary School | PK-5 | 902 | 16.1 |
| Ludington High School | 9-12 | 684 | 20.7 |
| OJ DeJonge Middle School | 6-8 | 477 | 17.0 |
| Developmental ClassroomsWSESD | K-12 | 103 | 5.4 |
| Academy of Science Math and Technology Early College High Sc | 11-12 | 55 | 55.0 |
| Early Childhood SEWSESD | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Ludington
- Amber, MI4.8 mi · 2,529 people · home $228,700
- Hamlin, MI5.0 mi · 3,711 people · home $281,400
- Manistee, MI20.7 mi · 6,259 people · home $164,100
- Manistee, MI24.7 mi · 4,022 people · home $193,900
- Shelby, MI24.8 mi · 4,109 people · home $180,800
Ludington questions
Is Ludington, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ludington scores better for retirees than 68% of Michigan towns and quieter than 12%. 30.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.3).
How much does a house cost in Ludington?
The median owner-occupied home in Ludington is valued at $201,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,411, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $902 a month.
What is the weather like in Ludington?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.3 inches of precipitation a year and 78.5 inches of snow.
Does Ludington get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Ludington since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on August 15, 1966. 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)