The Town FilesNorman, Michigan
Township in Manistee County · population 1,567 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,900
- Household income
- $63,634
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 120 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 48.0
Norman is a township of 1,567 people in Manistee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $156,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 97% of Michigan towns, quieter than 94% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 74% of Michigan towns.
How Norman 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 Norman is worth $156,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $63,634, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 90.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Norman | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $859 | $955 |
| Median household income | $63,634 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 46.5% | — |
Who lives in Norman
| People | Norman | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Norman
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 38.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 119.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 171 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norman since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F1, struck on June 8, 1985 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Manistee County since 1996
Manistee County has been included in 8 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 Manistee County
Manistee County had 7,281 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,233 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Norman itself the ACS puts it at 10.5%.
Towns near Norman
- Elk, MI5.7 mi · 940 people · home $181,900
- Dickson, MI6.6 mi · 980 people · home $157,400
- Stronach, MI10.4 mi · 834 people · home $165,600
- Slagle, MI11.0 mi · 509 people · home $147,300
- Brown, MI11.0 mi · 704 people · home $238,700
- Kaleva, MI12.1 mi · 507 people · home $94,200
- Newkirk, MI12.5 mi · 655 people · home $110,600
- Sheridan, MI12.6 mi · 1,044 people · home $172,600
Norman questions
Is Norman, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Norman scores better for retirees than 47% of Michigan towns and quieter than 94%. 22.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.0).
How much does a house cost in Norman?
The median owner-occupied home in Norman is valued at $156,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,634, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Norman?
July highs average 80.6°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.0 inches of precipitation a year and 119.6 inches of snow.
Does Norman get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Norman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on June 8, 1985. 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)