The Town FilesPontiac, Michigan
City in Oakland County · population 61,606 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $121,700
- Household income
- $44,329
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 36.5
Pontiac is a city of 61,606 people in Oakland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $121,700, 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 94% of Michigan towns.
How Pontiac 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 Pontiac is worth $121,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $44,329, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,063 a month. 46.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Pontiac | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $121,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,063 | $955 |
| Median household income | $44,329 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 46.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Pontiac
| People | Pontiac | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Pontiac
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F. About 33.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 135 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pontiac since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 20, 1976 about 7.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 60 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 25, 1988.
Severe weather in Oakland County since 1996
Oakland County has been included in 15 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 25, 2014 | Flood | DR-4195: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Oakland County
Oakland County had 723,862 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $77,917 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Pontiac itself the ACS puts it at 10.1%.
Public schools in Pontiac
16 public schools with 5,805 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pontiac High School | 9-12 | 942 | 18.1 |
| Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac (charter) | PK-12 | 810 | 23.1 |
| Walton Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 781 | 19.0 |
| Pontiac Middle School | 6-8 | 768 | 16.7 |
| Whitman Elementary School | K-5 | 559 | 10.8 |
| Pontiac Academy for Excellence (charter) | K-12 | 553 | 20.5 |
| Herrington School | K-6 | 382 | 23.9 |
| Owen Elementary School | K-6 | 319 | 17.7 |
| Alcott School | K-5 | 281 | 23.4 |
| Great Lakes Academy (charter) | K-8 | 200 | 18.2 |
| Flex High School of Pontiac (charter) | 9-12 | 79 | 13.2 |
| Childrens Village School | K-12 | 77 | 5.9 |
Towns near Pontiac
- Auburn Hills, MI2.8 mi · 24,360 people · home $245,000
- Keego Harbor, MI4.1 mi · 2,764 people · home $255,900
- Bloomfield, MI5.0 mi · 44,253 people · home $604,800
- Bloomfield Hills, MI5.1 mi · 4,460 people · home $947,900
- Waterford, MI5.2 mi · 70,565 people · home $250,900
- Rochester Hills, MI6.6 mi · 76,300 people · home $409,800
- Orion, MI7.5 mi · 38,206 people · home $369,900
- West Bloomfield, MI7.6 mi · 65,888 people · home $426,200
Pontiac questions
Is Pontiac, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Pontiac scores better for retirees than 1% of Michigan towns and quieter than 1%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.5).
How much does a house cost in Pontiac?
The median owner-occupied home in Pontiac is valued at $121,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,329, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,063 a month.
What is the weather like in Pontiac?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 17.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.9 inches of precipitation a year and 36.0 inches of snow.
Does Pontiac get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Pontiac since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 20, 1976. 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)