The Town FilesMarquette, Michigan
Charter township in Marquette County · population 4,140 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $286,700
- Household income
- $57,983
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 197 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.7
Marquette is a charter township of 4,140 people in Marquette County, Michigan. The median home is worth $286,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for young professionals than 95% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 95% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns.
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Michigan With the Fewest Tornadoes
- #5 in The 25 Snowiest Small Towns in Michigan
- #10 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #10 in 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Coolest Summers
- #15 in The 50 Snowiest Small Towns in America
- #16 in The 50 Snowiest Places in America
How Marquette 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 Marquette is worth $286,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $57,983, which is more affordable than 2% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,198 a month. 58.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Marquette | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $286,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,198 | $955 |
| Median household income | $57,983 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.9% | — |
Who lives in Marquette
| People | Marquette | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 11.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Marquette
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 36.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 196.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 189 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Marquette since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 11, 2011 about 6.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 11, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 54 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 14, 2007.
Severe weather in Marquette County since 1996
Marquette County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| 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 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Marquette County
Marquette County had 26,385 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,658 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Marquette itself the ACS puts it at 3%.
Towns near Marquette
- Negaunee, MI3.9 mi · 3,232 people · home $302,400
- Marquette, MI6.7 mi · 20,629 people · home $274,700
- Negaunee, MI8.2 mi · 4,627 people · home $170,100
- Ishpeming, MI8.5 mi · 3,392 people · home $206,400
- Harvey, MI11.2 mi · 3,244 people · home $262,800
- Ishpeming, MI11.9 mi · 6,140 people · home $111,900
- West Ishpeming, MI12.4 mi · 2,552 people · home $193,900
- Chocolay, MI15.7 mi · 5,899 people · home $246,800
Marquette questions
Is Marquette, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Marquette scores better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.7).
How much does a house cost in Marquette?
The median owner-occupied home in Marquette is valued at $286,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,983, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $1,198 a month.
What is the weather like in Marquette?
July highs average 76.0°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.7 inches of precipitation a year and 196.8 inches of snow.
Does Marquette get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Marquette since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 11, 2011. 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)