The Town FilesPine River, Michigan
Township in Gratiot County · population 2,348 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,200
- Household income
- $71,073
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 38.2
Pine River is a township of 2,348 people in Gratiot County, Michigan. The median home is worth $156,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 87% of Michigan towns, better transit than 81% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Michigan towns.
How Pine River 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 Pine River is worth $156,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $71,073, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. 98.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pine River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $71,073 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 98.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Pine River
| People | Pine River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Pine River
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pine River since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 14, 1974 about 5.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 25, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on October 4, 2006.
Severe weather in Gratiot County since 1996
Gratiot County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Gratiot County
Gratiot County had 12,359 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,845 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Pine River itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Towns near Pine River
- St. Louis, MI3.4 mi · 7,010 people · home $119,200
- Alma, MI3.5 mi · 9,488 people · home $115,900
- Seville, MI5.3 mi · 2,132 people · home $136,100
- Coe, MI6.0 mi · 3,032 people · home $161,000
- Bethany, MI6.5 mi · 1,773 people · home $172,400
- Shepherd, MI6.6 mi · 1,469 people · home $157,000
- Arcada, MI6.8 mi · 1,671 people · home $218,900
- Lincoln, MI8.0 mi · 2,069 people · home $182,700
Pine River questions
Is Pine River, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pine River scores better for retirees than 43% of Michigan towns and quieter than 24%. 22.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.2).
How much does a house cost in Pine River?
The median owner-occupied home in Pine River is valued at $156,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,073, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Pine River?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Pine River get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pine River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 14, 1974. 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)