The Town FilesMunising, Michigan
City in Alger County · population 1,986 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $117,300
- Household income
- $59,808
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 75°
- Snow a year
- 161 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 49.7
Munising is a city of 1,986 people in Alger County, Michigan. The median home is worth $117,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 84% of Michigan towns.
How Munising 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 Munising is worth $117,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.0 times the median household income of $59,808, which is more affordable than 94% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $706 a month. 68.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Munising | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $117,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $706 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,808 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.2% | — |
Who lives in Munising
| People | Munising | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Munising
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 31.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 161.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Munising since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 9, 1987 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 10, 2001.
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 Munising itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Munising
3 public schools with 554 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Munising High and Middle School | 6-12 | 312 | 17.3 |
| William G Mather Elementary School | PK-5 | 242 | 12.7 |
| Alger Maximum Correctional Facility | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Munising
- Munising, MI5.5 mi · 2,865 people · home $174,700
- Au Train, MI9.8 mi · 1,019 people · home $246,300
- Rock River, MI18.8 mi · 1,231 people · home $213,800
- Mathias, MI19.1 mi · 532 people · home $111,500
- Hiawatha, MI19.4 mi · 1,305 people · home $184,500
- Inwood, MI24.5 mi · 654 people · home $229,100
- Skandia, MI27.2 mi · 810 people · home $205,400
Munising questions
Is Munising, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Munising scores better for retirees than 91% of Michigan towns and quieter than 71%. 26.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.7).
How much does a house cost in Munising?
The median owner-occupied home in Munising is valued at $117,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,808, so homes cost about 2.0 times income. Median rent is $706 a month.
What is the weather like in Munising?
July highs average 74.7°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.7 inches of precipitation a year and 161.0 inches of snow.
Does Munising get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Munising since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 9, 1987. 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)