The Town FilesOlive, Michigan
Township in Ottawa County · population 5,007 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $283,800
- Household income
- $80,208
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 82 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 39.6
Olive is a township of 5,007 people in Ottawa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $283,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Olive 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 Olive is worth $283,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $80,208, which is more affordable than 19% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $784 a month. 93.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Olive | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $283,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $784 | $955 |
| Median household income | $80,208 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Olive
| People | Olive | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Olive
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 38.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 132 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olive since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 14 deaths and 201 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 13, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1975.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 131,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,813 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Olive itself the ACS puts it at 0.7%.
Public schools in Olive
1 public school with 21 students, about 7.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lighthouse Academy Ottawa Juvenile Detention Center (charter) | 3-12 | 21 | 7.0 |
Towns near Olive
- Port Sheldon, MI4.8 mi · 5,206 people · home $389,400
- Holland, MI5.2 mi · 38,276 people · home $275,100
- Blendon, MI5.9 mi · 7,081 people · home $395,600
- Zeeland, MI6.7 mi · 5,719 people · home $299,000
- Robinson, MI6.8 mi · 6,382 people · home $313,100
- Park, MI6.9 mi · 18,625 people · home $393,200
- Beechwood, MI7.0 mi · 3,121 people · home $277,800
- Allendale, MI8.5 mi · 26,582 people · home $321,300
Olive questions
Is Olive, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Olive scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 25%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.6).
How much does a house cost in Olive?
The median owner-occupied home in Olive is valued at $283,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,208, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $784 a month.
What is the weather like in Olive?
July highs average 78.9°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.2 inches of precipitation a year and 82.0 inches of snow.
Does Olive get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olive since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 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)