The Town FilesOwosso, Michigan
City in Shiawassee County · population 14,714 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,600
- Household income
- $54,229
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 38.9
Owosso is a city of 14,714 people in Shiawassee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $132,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Michigan towns, hipper than 95% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Owosso 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 Owosso is worth $132,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $54,229, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $784 a month. 68.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Owosso | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $784 | $955 |
| Median household income | $54,229 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1951 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Owosso
| People | Owosso | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Owosso
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.7°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 149 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owosso 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 5.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 12, 2021.
Severe weather in Shiawassee County since 1996
Shiawassee County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Shiawassee County
Shiawassee County had 15,541 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,381 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Owosso itself the ACS puts it at 5.5%.
Public schools in Owosso
7 public schools with 3,056 students, about 16.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owosso High School | 9-12 | 807 | 18.3 |
| Owosso Middle School | 6-8 | 644 | 19.5 |
| Bryant School | K-5 | 463 | 16.5 |
| Emerson School | K-5 | 443 | 16.4 |
| Central School | K-5 | 411 | 17.9 |
| Shiawassee RESD Student Learning Center West | PK-12 | 160 | 7.6 |
| Lincoln Alternative High School | 9-12 | 128 | 25.6 |
Towns near Owosso
- Middletown, MI1.8 mi · 825 people · home $90,700
- Corunna, MI3.1 mi · 3,046 people · home $151,000
- Owosso, MI3.2 mi · 4,765 people · home $180,900
- Caledonia, MI3.7 mi · 4,360 people · home $186,800
- Bennington, MI6.2 mi · 3,119 people · home $188,100
- Rush, MI6.8 mi · 1,268 people · home $194,900
- Shiawassee, MI6.8 mi · 2,740 people · home $190,200
- Middlebury, MI7.2 mi · 1,529 people · home $189,600
Owosso questions
Is Owosso, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Owosso scores better for retirees than 8% of Michigan towns and quieter than 8%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Owosso?
The median owner-occupied home in Owosso is valued at $132,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,229, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $784 a month.
What is the weather like in Owosso?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 15.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 38.3 inches of snow.
Does Owosso get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Owosso 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)