The Town FilesPaw Paw Lake, Michigan
Community in Berrien County · population 3,323 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $191,700
- Household income
- $67,674
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 85 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 39.0
Paw Paw Lake is a community of 3,323 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $191,700, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 94% of Michigan towns, more walkable than 82% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Paw Paw Lake 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 Paw Paw Lake is worth $191,700, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $67,674, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,164 a month. 74.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Paw Paw Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $191,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,164 | $955 |
| Median household income | $67,674 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 74.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 36.8% | — |
Who lives in Paw Paw Lake
| People | Paw Paw Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Paw Paw Lake
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 84.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paw Paw Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1980 about 2.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 20, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Paw Paw Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Towns near Paw Paw Lake
- Coloma, MI1.6 mi · 5,051 people · home $203,700
- Watervliet, MI1.6 mi · 3,036 people · home $154,500
- Covert, MI5.0 mi · 2,510 people · home $157,600
- Hagar, MI5.1 mi · 3,243 people · home $237,700
- Hartford, MI5.6 mi · 2,515 people · home $108,700
- Hartford, MI5.7 mi · 3,021 people · home $150,000
- Bainbridge, MI7.3 mi · 2,682 people · home $220,600
- Benton, MI9.1 mi · 14,374 people · home $148,700
Paw Paw Lake questions
Is Paw Paw Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Paw Paw Lake scores better for retirees than 34% of Michigan towns and quieter than 28%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Paw Paw Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Paw Paw Lake is valued at $191,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,674, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,164 a month.
What is the weather like in Paw Paw Lake?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 84.6 inches of snow.
Does Paw Paw Lake get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Paw Paw Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 13, 1980. 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)