The Town Files

Markey, Michigan

Township in Roscommon County · population 2,401 (2020 Census)

Map: where Markey is in MichiganMarkey
Median home
$166,300
Household income
$51,587
Jan low / Jul high
11° / 81°
Snow a year
66 in
Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
8
Median age
59.9

Markey is a township of 2,401 people in Roscommon County, Michigan. The median home is worth $166,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 86% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 85% of Michigan towns, quieter than 84% of Michigan towns.

How Markey 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.

Markey lifestyle rankings vs other Michigan townsRetirement85th pctFamilies32nd pctQuiet84th pctWalkability2nd pctFirst-time buyers86th pctYoung professionals49th pctVibrancy36th pctHip & trendy64th pctCollege town23rd pctUpscale60th pctVacation homes81st pctSeaside characterbottomCyclingbottomTransitbottomDriving8th pcttypical
The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025).

Homes and cost of living

The median home in Markey is worth $166,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $51,587, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $839 a month. 83.9% of households own their home.

Markey vs Roscommon County vs typical Michigan townMarkeyRoscommon CountyTypical Michigan townHome value$166,300$158,700$193,900Household income$51,587$55,246$69,792Monthly rent$839$816$955
Census ACS 5-year estimates, 2020–2024. "Typical town" = median of Michigan towns with 500+ people.
HousingMarkeyTypical Michigan town
Median home value$166,300$193,900
Median rent$839$955
Median household income$51,587$69,792
Home value ÷ income3.2×2.8×
Homeownership83.9%86.8%
Median year built19801975
Seasonal / vacation homes45.8%—

Who lives in Markey

PeopleMarkeyTypical Michigan town
Median age59.943.7
Age 65 and over39.9%20.7%
Under 1812.1%—
Bachelor's degree or higher17.9%21.5%
Below the poverty line12.2%10.4%
Veterans8.3%—
Born outside the U.S.0.4%—
Work from home16.8%9.1%
Average commute26.6 min25.6 min
Homes with broadband84.7%88.8%

Weather in Markey

July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.4°F. About 29.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 65.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.

Markey monthly temperatures and precipitation10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32° freezing27°11°Jan30°11°Feb40°19°Mar54°31°Apr67°42°May77°51°Jun81°55°Jul78°53°Aug71°46°Sep57°37°Oct43°28°Nov32°19°DecPrecipitation (in) · snow (in) in blue1.716.41.413.61.88.33.14.43.10.13.22.72.92.63.10.52.27.51.815.1
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals: average daily high and low by month; precipitation and snowfall in inches. Temperatures from the Houghton Lk Roscommon Ap station (1.4 mi away).

Tornadoes, storms and disasters

8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Markey since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 10, 1974 about 6.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 9, 2021.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Markey by decade01950s11960s31970s11980s21990s02000s02010s12020s
NOAA Storm Events Database, tornado tracks (start to end point) passing within 10 miles of the town center, 1950–2026.

Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 21, 2003.

Severe weather in Roscommon County since 1996

Storm events in Roscommon County since 1996 by typeHail41Flood2Blizzard4High Wind8Ice Storm5Lightning2Heavy Snow23Winter Storm41
NOAA Storm Events Database, Roscommon County, 1996–2026 (all event types recorded since 1996).

Roscommon County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
June 30, 2026FloodDR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding
March 27, 2020BiologicalDR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3455: Covid-19
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
January 27, 1978SnowstormEM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms

Jobs and pay in Roscommon County

Roscommon County had 6,429 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,799 a year. Unemployment was 7.2% in 2023; in Markey itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.

Largest industries in Roscommon CountyHotels & restaurants1,916 jobs · $23,204Retail1,171 jobs · $36,117Manufacturing355 jobs · $68,052Construction285 jobs · $62,047Other services215 jobs · $41,313Arts & recreation168 jobs · $25,075
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024, private-sector jobs and average annual pay.
Unemployment rate in Roscommon County, 2000–20230%4%8%12%16%2000200420082012201620202023Roscommon 7.2%
Annual average unemployment rate (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics via USDA ERS).

Towns near Markey

Markey questions

Is Markey, Michigan a good place to retire?

On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Markey scores better for retirees than 85% of Michigan towns and quieter than 84%. 39.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.9).

How much does a house cost in Markey?

The median owner-occupied home in Markey is valued at $166,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,587, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $839 a month.

What is the weather like in Markey?

July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.6 inches of precipitation a year and 65.9 inches of snow.

Does Markey get tornadoes?

8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Markey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 10, 1974. The typical Michigan town has had 10.

How this page is made. Every number comes from public data, matched to Markey's Census boundary (GEOID 2614351780). Comparisons use the median of Michigan towns with at least 500 people. Weather comes from the nearest NOAA normals station; storm counts use NOAA tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center. Data snapshot 2026-11-13.