The Town FilesMathias, Michigan
Township in Alger County · population 532 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,500
- Household income
- $46,985
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 164 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.4
Mathias is a township of 532 people in Alger County, Michigan. The median home is worth $111,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 93% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 83% of Michigan towns, quieter than 83% of Michigan towns.
How Mathias 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 Mathias is worth $111,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $46,985, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. 99.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mathias | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $46,985 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 99.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 47.7% | — |
Who lives in Mathias
| People | Mathias | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.5% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 35.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 68.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Mathias
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 8.7°F. About 37.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 164.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 186 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mathias since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on June 30, 2026 about 5.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 30, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 10, 2023.
Severe weather in Alger County since 1996
Alger County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, 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 |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| March 2, 1977 | Drought | EM-3035: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Alger County
Alger County had 2,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,474 a year. Unemployment was 7.7% in 2023; in Mathias itself the ACS puts it at 8.4%.
Towns near Mathias
- Au Train, MI9.7 mi · 1,019 people · home $246,300
- Rock River, MI10.9 mi · 1,231 people · home $213,800
- Masonville, MI12.4 mi · 1,645 people · home $166,200
- Maple Ridge, MI15.6 mi · 694 people · home $157,600
- Skandia, MI16.7 mi · 810 people · home $205,400
- Baldwin, MI18.3 mi · 700 people · home $201,000
- Munising, MI19.1 mi · 1,986 people · home $117,300
- Inwood, MI21.1 mi · 654 people · home $229,100
Mathias questions
Is Mathias, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mathias scores better for retirees than 83% of Michigan towns and quieter than 83%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Mathias?
The median owner-occupied home in Mathias is valued at $111,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,985, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Mathias?
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 8.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.0 inches of precipitation a year and 164.0 inches of snow.
Does Mathias get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mathias since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on June 30, 2026. 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)