The Town FilesPenn, Michigan
Township in Cass County · population 1,755 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $304,000
- Household income
- $83,897
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 56 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 51.1
Penn is a township of 1,755 people in Cass County, Michigan. The median home is worth $304,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 82% of Michigan towns.
How Penn 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 Penn is worth $304,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $83,897, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,190 a month. 86.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Penn | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $304,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,190 | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,897 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 34.2% | — |
Who lives in Penn
| People | Penn | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Penn
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 55.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penn since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 5, 2010 about 6.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 6, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 9, 2000.
Severe weather in Cass County since 1996
Cass County has been included in 9 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 Cass County
Cass County had 9,373 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,894 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Penn itself the ACS puts it at 8.2%.
Towns near Penn
- Cassopolis, MI4.3 mi · 1,712 people · home $110,000
- Calvin, MI5.2 mi · 1,993 people · home $223,800
- LaGrange, MI5.9 mi · 3,787 people · home $119,600
- Newberg, MI6.2 mi · 1,602 people · home $202,700
- Volinia, MI6.7 mi · 1,096 people · home $224,300
- Jefferson, MI8.2 mi · 2,590 people · home $268,900
- Marcellus, MI8.7 mi · 2,401 people · home $181,800
- Marcellus, MI8.8 mi · 1,074 people · home $120,400
Penn questions
Is Penn, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Penn scores better for retirees than 89% of Michigan towns and quieter than 58%. 32.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.1).
How much does a house cost in Penn?
The median owner-occupied home in Penn is valued at $304,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,897, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,190 a month.
What is the weather like in Penn?
July highs average 81.5°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 55.7 inches of snow.
Does Penn get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penn since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 5, 2010. 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)