The Town FilesOtisco, Michigan
Township in Ionia County · population 2,268 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $244,500
- Household income
- $62,168
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 73 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 45.2
Otisco is a township of 2,268 people in Ionia County, Michigan. The median home is worth $244,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Michigan towns, quieter than 80% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of Michigan towns.
How Otisco 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 Otisco is worth $244,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $62,168, which is more affordable than 9% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,091 a month. 87.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Otisco | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $244,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,091 | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,168 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Otisco
| People | Otisco | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 38.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Otisco
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 72.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otisco since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 23, 1968 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on June 11, 1968.
Severe weather in Ionia County since 1996
Ionia County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Ionia County
Ionia County had 18,530 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,605 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Otisco itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Towns near Otisco
- Belding, MI1.9 mi · 5,938 people · home $163,800
- Grattan, MI5.3 mi · 3,809 people · home $355,800
- Keene, MI5.8 mi · 1,730 people · home $303,200
- Eureka, MI5.9 mi · 4,211 people · home $236,200
- Orleans, MI6.2 mi · 2,664 people · home $175,700
- Greenville, MI7.2 mi · 8,816 people · home $184,200
- Easton, MI8.2 mi · 3,058 people · home $192,000
- Fairplain, MI8.4 mi · 1,802 people · home $162,000
Otisco questions
Is Otisco, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Otisco scores better for retirees than 43% of Michigan towns and quieter than 80%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.2).
How much does a house cost in Otisco?
The median owner-occupied home in Otisco is valued at $244,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,168, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,091 a month.
What is the weather like in Otisco?
July highs average 84.3°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 72.9 inches of snow.
Does Otisco get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Otisco since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 23, 1968. 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)