The Town FilesOssineke, Michigan
Community in Alpena County · population 932 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $159,200
- Household income
- $59,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 77°
- Snow a year
- 64 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 49.1
Ossineke is a community of 932 people in Alpena County, Michigan. The median home is worth $159,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Michigan towns, quieter than 77% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 70% of Michigan towns.
How Ossineke 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 Ossineke is worth $159,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $59,583, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $718 a month. 83.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ossineke | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $718 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,583 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 83.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.9% | — |
Who lives in Ossineke
| People | Ossineke | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 10.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 8.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ossineke
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 13.4°F. About 31.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossineke since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 8, 1953 about 6.4 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 7 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on August 7, 2025.
Severe weather in Alpena County since 1996
Alpena 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 Alpena County
Alpena County had 12,191 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,642 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Ossineke itself the ACS puts it at 9.1%.
Towns near Ossineke
- Sanborn, MI1.0 mi · 2,084 people · home $155,700
- Alcona, MI7.1 mi · 966 people · home $214,000
- Hubbard Lake, MI8.5 mi · 857 people · home $304,800
- Caledonia, MI10.5 mi · 1,032 people · home $238,400
- Alpena, MI11.5 mi · 10,197 people · home $118,700
- Wilson, MI11.5 mi · 1,972 people · home $165,400
- Ossineke, MI11.6 mi · 1,635 people · home $169,700
- Alpena, MI12.8 mi · 9,116 people · home $183,600
Ossineke questions
Is Ossineke, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ossineke scores better for retirees than 48% of Michigan towns and quieter than 77%. 21.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Ossineke?
The median owner-occupied home in Ossineke is valued at $159,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,583, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $718 a month.
What is the weather like in Ossineke?
July highs average 77.1°F and January lows 13.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.9 inches of precipitation a year and 64.0 inches of snow.
Does Ossineke get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossineke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 8, 1953. 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)