The Town FilesOnaway, Michigan
City in Presque Isle County · population 890 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $69,800
- Household income
- $41,622
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 87 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 50.3
Onaway is a city of 890 people in Presque Isle County, Michigan. The median home is worth $69,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 90% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 82% of Michigan towns, quieter than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Onaway 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 Onaway is worth $69,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $41,622, which is more affordable than 98% of Michigan towns. 65.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onaway | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $69,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $41,622 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 65.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Onaway
| People | Onaway | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Onaway
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 11.8°F. About 32.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 86.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onaway since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on October 18, 2007 about 6.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 18, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 4, 2011.
Severe weather in Presque Isle County since 1996
Presque Isle County has been included in 7 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 |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Presque Isle County
Presque Isle County had 2,595 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,344 a year. Unemployment was 7.7% in 2023; in Onaway itself the ACS puts it at 14.7%.
Public schools in Onaway
4 public schools with 543 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onaway Elementary School | K-5 | 243 | 14.3 |
| Onaway Senior High School | 9-12 | 167 | 23.9 |
| Onaway Middle School | 6-8 | 115 | 16.4 |
| Presque Isle Academy (charter) | 9-12 | 18 | — |
Towns near Onaway
- Forest, MI6.4 mi · 977 people · home $128,800
- Allis, MI6.6 mi · 925 people · home $139,600
- Ocqueoc, MI9.0 mi · 544 people · home $221,000
- Case, MI9.3 mi · 819 people · home $149,300
- Grant, MI11.7 mi · 810 people · home $238,500
- Aloha, MI13.5 mi · 937 people · home $207,400
- Montmorency, MI13.6 mi · 1,016 people · home $213,600
- Koehler, MI15.0 mi · 1,193 people · home $155,800
Onaway questions
Is Onaway, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onaway scores better for retirees than 61% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 24.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.3).
How much does a house cost in Onaway?
The median owner-occupied home in Onaway is valued at $69,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,622, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Onaway?
July highs average 80.4°F and January lows 11.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.0 inches of precipitation a year and 86.9 inches of snow.
Does Onaway get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onaway since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on October 18, 2007. 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)