The Town FilesManistee, Michigan
Township in Manistee County · population 4,022 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,900
- Household income
- $65,461
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 103 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 51.7
Manistee is a township of 4,022 people in Manistee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $193,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 92% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 89% of Michigan towns.
How Manistee 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 Manistee is worth $193,900, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $65,461, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $666 a month. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Manistee | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $666 | $955 |
| Median household income | $65,461 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 15.0% | — |
Who lives in Manistee
| People | Manistee | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 30.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 8.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Manistee
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 102.8 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
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manistee since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 5.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 27, 2024.
Severe weather in Manistee County since 1996
Manistee County has been included in 8 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 |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Manistee County
Manistee County had 7,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,233 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Manistee itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Manistee
1 public school with 44 students, about 4.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manistee ISD Center Programs | PK-12 | 44 | 4.9 |
Towns near Manistee
- Manistee, MI4.8 mi · 6,259 people · home $164,100
- Hamlin, MI20.2 mi · 3,711 people · home $281,400
- Amber, MI23.1 mi · 2,529 people · home $228,700
- Ludington, MI24.7 mi · 7,655 people · home $201,100
- Benzonia, MI26.4 mi · 2,734 people · home $327,000
Manistee questions
Is Manistee, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Manistee scores better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns and quieter than 85%. 30.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.7).
How much does a house cost in Manistee?
The median owner-occupied home in Manistee is valued at $193,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,461, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $666 a month.
What is the weather like in Manistee?
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 102.8 inches of snow.
Does Manistee get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Manistee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. 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)