The Town FilesMelrose, Michigan
Township in Charlevoix County · population 1,405 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,600
- Household income
- $97,059
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 112 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 41.6
Melrose is a township of 1,405 people in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The median home is worth $262,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 97% of Michigan towns, better for families than 85% of Michigan towns, quieter than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Melrose 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 Melrose is worth $262,600, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $97,059, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,750 a month. 91.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Melrose | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,750 | $955 |
| Median household income | $97,059 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 24.8% | — |
Who lives in Melrose
| People | Melrose | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Melrose
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.1°F. About 36.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 111.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 16 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melrose since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 31, 1977 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 24, 1998.
Severe weather in Charlevoix County since 1996
Charlevoix County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County had 10,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Melrose itself the ACS puts it at 1.1%.
Towns near Melrose
- Boyne City, MI5.1 mi · 3,816 people · home $249,000
- Evangeline, MI5.4 mi · 767 people · home $384,100
- Boyne Valley, MI6.8 mi · 1,425 people · home $203,300
- Wilson, MI7.6 mi · 1,858 people · home $299,500
- Bay, MI7.7 mi · 1,142 people · home $368,000
- Bear Creek, MI7.8 mi · 6,542 people · home $364,500
- Hudson, MI7.9 mi · 671 people · home $222,200
- Resort, MI8.0 mi · 2,835 people · home $394,500
Melrose questions
Is Melrose, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Melrose scores better for retirees than 74% of Michigan towns and quieter than 84%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.6).
How much does a house cost in Melrose?
The median owner-occupied home in Melrose is valued at $262,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $97,059, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,750 a month.
What is the weather like in Melrose?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 14.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.2 inches of precipitation a year and 111.7 inches of snow.
Does Melrose get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Melrose since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 31, 1977. 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)