The Town FilesMarcellus, Michigan
Township in Cass County · population 2,401 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $181,800
- Household income
- $72,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 46.4
Marcellus is a township of 2,401 people in Cass County, Michigan. The median home is worth $181,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 86% of Michigan towns, better for families than 80% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 75% of Michigan towns.
How Marcellus 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 Marcellus is worth $181,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $72,857, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $822 a month. 86.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marcellus | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $181,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $822 | $955 |
| Median household income | $72,857 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.3% | — |
Who lives in Marcellus
| People | Marcellus | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Marcellus
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 51.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marcellus since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 6, 2024 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 6, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Cass County
Cass County had 9,373 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,894 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Marcellus itself the ACS puts it at 5.9%.
Public schools in Marcellus
2 public schools with 428 students, about 19.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcellus Elementary School | PK-5 | 264 | 18.9 |
| Marcellus High School | 9-12 | 164 | 20.5 |
Towns near Marcellus
- Marcellus, MI0.4 mi · 1,074 people · home $120,400
- Newberg, MI5.5 mi · 1,602 people · home $202,700
- Volinia, MI5.5 mi · 1,096 people · home $224,300
- Flowerfield, MI6.4 mi · 1,587 people · home $242,200
- Porter, MI6.5 mi · 2,568 people · home $306,800
- Decatur, MI8.1 mi · 3,575 people · home $158,000
- Fabius, MI8.6 mi · 3,311 people · home $270,700
- Penn, MI8.7 mi · 1,755 people · home $304,000
Marcellus questions
Is Marcellus, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marcellus scores better for retirees than 32% of Michigan towns and quieter than 73%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.4).
How much does a house cost in Marcellus?
The median owner-occupied home in Marcellus is valued at $181,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,857, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $822 a month.
What is the weather like in Marcellus?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 51.0 inches of snow.
Does Marcellus get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Marcellus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 6, 2024. 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)