The Town FilesMcBain, Michigan
City in Missaukee County · population 637 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $141,700
- Household income
- $47,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 37.8
McBain is a city of 637 people in Missaukee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $141,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 82% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 77% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 75% of Michigan towns.
How McBain 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 McBain is worth $141,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $47,083, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $298 a month. 62.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | McBain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $141,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $298 | $955 |
| Median household income | $47,083 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1962 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in McBain
| People | McBain | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in McBain
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.9°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McBain since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 3, 1964 about 8.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 18, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Missaukee County since 1996
Missaukee County has been included in 7 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 Missaukee County
Missaukee County had 4,213 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,075 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in McBain itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Public schools in McBain
3 public schools with 1,076 students, about 18.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| McBain Elementary School | PK-5 | 500 | 18.5 |
| McBain High School | 9-12 | 309 | 18.2 |
| McBain Middle School | 6-8 | 267 | 19.1 |
Towns near McBain
- Richland, MI3.1 mi · 1,489 people · home $197,300
- Riverside, MI3.9 mi · 1,124 people · home $206,700
- Highland, MI5.4 mi · 1,148 people · home $189,700
- Marion, MI6.7 mi · 1,565 people · home $125,000
- Reeder, MI7.3 mi · 1,199 people · home $168,400
- Marion, MI7.6 mi · 789 people · home $110,900
- Lake, MI8.1 mi · 2,827 people · home $230,300
- Clam Lake, MI8.4 mi · 2,325 people · home $220,300
McBain questions
Is McBain, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, McBain scores better for retirees than 77% of Michigan towns and quieter than 49%. 24.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in McBain?
The median owner-occupied home in McBain is valued at $141,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,083, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $298 a month.
What is the weather like in McBain?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 9.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 74.0 inches of snow.
Does McBain get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of McBain since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 3, 1964. 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)