The Town FilesOssineke, Michigan
Township in Alpena County · population 1,635 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,700
- Household income
- $67,885
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 63 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 35.6
Ossineke is a township of 1,635 people in Alpena County, Michigan. The median home is worth $169,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 96% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 93% of Michigan towns, better for families than 81% 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 $169,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $67,885, which is more affordable than 74% of Michigan towns. 94.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ossineke | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,885 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 26.9% | — |
Who lives in Ossineke
| People | Ossineke | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 29.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ossineke
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 29.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 63.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossineke since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 22, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 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 2.8%.
Public schools in Ossineke
1 public school with 199 students, about 19.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanborn Elementary | K-5 | 199 | 19.9 |
Towns near Ossineke
- Caledonia, MI4.2 mi · 1,032 people · home $238,400
- Hubbard Lake, MI6.6 mi · 857 people · home $304,800
- Wilson, MI9.4 mi · 1,972 people · home $165,400
- Green, MI11.1 mi · 1,117 people · home $167,100
- Ossineke, MI11.6 mi · 932 people · home $159,200
- Alcona, MI11.6 mi · 966 people · home $214,000
- Sanborn, MI11.7 mi · 2,084 people · home $155,700
- Hawes, MI13.7 mi · 1,076 people · home $175,900
Ossineke questions
Is Ossineke, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ossineke scores better for retirees than 66% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Ossineke?
The median owner-occupied home in Ossineke is valued at $169,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,885, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Ossineke?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.7 inches of precipitation a year and 63.0 inches of snow.
Does Ossineke get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ossineke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 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)