The Town FilesOnsted, Michigan
Village in Lenawee County · population 988 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,700
- Household income
- $66,964
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 35.5
Onsted is a village of 988 people in Lenawee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $170,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 79% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Onsted 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 Onsted is worth $170,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $66,964, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $828 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Onsted | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $828 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,964 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.2% | — |
Who lives in Onsted
| People | Onsted | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 31.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Onsted
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 35.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onsted since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 85 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 6, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 26, 2007.
Severe weather in Lenawee County since 1996
Lenawee County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, 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 |
| January 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Lenawee County
Lenawee County had 25,796 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,357 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Onsted itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Onsted
3 public schools with 1,172 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onsted Elementary | PK-5 | 531 | 13.6 |
| Onsted Community High School | 9-12 | 388 | 22.8 |
| Onsted Middle School | 6-8 | 253 | 13.3 |
Towns near Onsted
- Cambridge, MI1.3 mi · 5,722 people · home $275,700
- Rome, MI4.4 mi · 1,824 people · home $244,000
- Manitou Beach-Devils Lake, MI4.9 mi · 2,032 people · home $260,300
- Vineyard Lake, MI6.0 mi · 992 people · home $306,100
- Franklin, MI6.2 mi · 3,063 people · home $293,900
- Woodstock, MI6.2 mi · 3,608 people · home $229,800
- Adrian, MI7.1 mi · 6,401 people · home $230,700
- Rollin, MI7.5 mi · 3,035 people · home $224,500
Onsted questions
Is Onsted, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Onsted scores better for retirees than 79% of Michigan towns and quieter than 43%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Onsted?
The median owner-occupied home in Onsted is valued at $170,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,964, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $828 a month.
What is the weather like in Onsted?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.2 inches of precipitation a year and 31.0 inches of snow.
Does Onsted get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Onsted since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 11, 1965. 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)