The Town FilesPolkton, Michigan
Charter township in Ottawa County · population 2,565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $366,000
- Household income
- $112,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 39.3
Polkton is a charter township of 2,565 people in Ottawa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $366,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 97% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 94% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Polkton 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 Polkton is worth $366,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $112,708, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,236 a month. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Polkton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $366,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,236 | $955 |
| Median household income | $112,708 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Polkton
| People | Polkton | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Polkton
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 19.3°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polkton since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 11, 1965 about 4.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 28, 1999.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 16 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 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 131,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,813 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Polkton itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near Polkton
- Coopersville, MI2.0 mi · 4,828 people · home $244,100
- Crockery, MI5.7 mi · 4,572 people · home $306,000
- Wright, MI6.1 mi · 3,190 people · home $321,000
- Allendale, MI6.2 mi · 27,073 people · home $307,900
- Allendale, MI6.3 mi · 26,582 people · home $321,300
- Ravenna, MI6.9 mi · 2,962 people · home $224,100
- Robinson, MI7.7 mi · 6,382 people · home $313,100
- Sullivan, MI8.6 mi · 2,541 people · home $215,700
Polkton questions
Is Polkton, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Polkton scores better for retirees than 32% of Michigan towns and quieter than 25%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Polkton?
The median owner-occupied home in Polkton is valued at $366,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,708, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,236 a month.
What is the weather like in Polkton?
July highs average 80.0°F and January lows 19.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 68.7 inches of snow.
Does Polkton get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Polkton 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)