The Town FilesMonterey, Michigan
Township in Allegan County · population 2,436 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $186,500
- Household income
- $91,207
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 91 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 44.7
Monterey is a township of 2,436 people in Allegan County, Michigan. The median home is worth $186,500, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 92% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 85% of Michigan towns, quieter than 80% of Michigan towns.
How Monterey 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 Monterey is worth $186,500, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $91,207, which is more affordable than 94% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,338 a month. 91.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monterey | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $186,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,338 | $955 |
| Median household income | $91,207 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.7% | — |
Who lives in Monterey
| People | Monterey | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Monterey
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 90.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monterey since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 3, 1956 about 7.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 20 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on October 23, 1955.
Severe weather in Allegan County since 1996
Allegan County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Allegan County
Allegan County had 41,360 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,226 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Monterey itself the ACS puts it at 10.3%.
Towns near Monterey
- Hopkins, MI3.4 mi · 615 people · home $241,700
- Allegan, MI5.2 mi · 4,689 people · home $232,700
- Heath, MI5.8 mi · 3,937 people · home $332,400
- Hopkins, MI5.9 mi · 2,760 people · home $287,500
- Salem, MI6.0 mi · 5,156 people · home $307,500
- Allegan, MI7.1 mi · 5,222 people · home $176,600
- Valley, MI7.9 mi · 2,221 people · home $271,800
- Watson, MI8.0 mi · 2,176 people · home $214,000
Monterey questions
Is Monterey, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monterey scores better for retirees than 19% of Michigan towns and quieter than 80%. 13.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.7).
How much does a house cost in Monterey?
The median owner-occupied home in Monterey is valued at $186,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $91,207, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $1,338 a month.
What is the weather like in Monterey?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 90.8 inches of snow.
Does Monterey get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monterey since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 3, 1956. 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)