The Town FilesNovesta, Michigan
Township in Tuscola County · population 1,443 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,900
- Household income
- $53,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 49.5
Novesta is a township of 1,443 people in Tuscola County, Michigan. The median home is worth $168,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Michigan towns, quieter than 83% of Michigan towns, hipper than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Novesta 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 Novesta is worth $168,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $53,750, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,700 a month. 96.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Novesta | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,700 | $955 |
| Median household income | $53,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.6% | — |
Who lives in Novesta
| People | Novesta | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 4.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Novesta
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Novesta since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 24, 1971 about 3.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 11, 1996.
Severe weather in Tuscola County since 1996
Tuscola County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Tuscola County
Tuscola County had 12,102 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,754 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Novesta itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near Novesta
- Cass City, MI3.9 mi · 2,494 people · home $113,100
- Ellington, MI5.5 mi · 1,325 people · home $172,900
- Evergreen, MI6.1 mi · 961 people · home $117,400
- Elkland, MI6.1 mi · 3,532 people · home $117,800
- Kingston, MI6.5 mi · 1,476 people · home $159,000
- Elmwood, MI8.4 mi · 1,060 people · home $146,800
- Wells, MI8.4 mi · 1,590 people · home $166,300
- Lamotte, MI8.5 mi · 764 people · home $172,000
Novesta questions
Is Novesta, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Novesta scores better for retirees than 59% of Michigan towns and quieter than 83%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.5).
How much does a house cost in Novesta?
The median owner-occupied home in Novesta is valued at $168,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,750, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,700 a month.
What is the weather like in Novesta?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 42.5 inches of snow.
Does Novesta get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Novesta since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 24, 1971. 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)