The Town FilesNapoleon, Michigan
Community in Jackson County · population 1,131 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $153,900
- Household income
- $54,076
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 48.0
Napoleon is a community of 1,131 people in Jackson County, Michigan. The median home is worth $153,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Napoleon 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 Napoleon is worth $153,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $54,076, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. 89.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Napoleon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $153,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,076 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 29.4% | — |
Who lives in Napoleon
| People | Napoleon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 45.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Napoleon
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.3°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 148 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Napoleon since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 12, 1976 about 1.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 31 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 31, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 21, 2004.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 55,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,139 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Napoleon itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Napoleon
- Napoleon, MI2.8 mi · 6,789 people · home $229,000
- Brooklyn, MI4.1 mi · 1,313 people · home $200,000
- Columbia, MI4.6 mi · 7,392 people · home $276,700
- Norvell, MI4.8 mi · 2,800 people · home $278,600
- Vineyard Lake, MI5.3 mi · 992 people · home $306,100
- Michigan Center, MI6.0 mi · 4,609 people · home $167,100
- Grass Lake, MI6.3 mi · 1,105 people · home $205,100
- Grass Lake, MI6.5 mi · 6,069 people · home $297,300
Napoleon questions
Is Napoleon, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Napoleon scores better for retirees than 91% of Michigan towns and quieter than 66%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.0).
How much does a house cost in Napoleon?
The median owner-occupied home in Napoleon is valued at $153,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,076, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Napoleon?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 15.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 31.0 inches of snow.
Does Napoleon get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Napoleon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 12, 1976. 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)