The Town FilesPort Austin, Michigan
Township in Huron County · population 1,384 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,300
- Household income
- $53,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 47 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 59.9
Port Austin is a township of 1,384 people in Huron County, Michigan. The median home is worth $176,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns, hipper than 97% of Michigan towns, better transit than 97% of Michigan towns.
How Port Austin 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 Port Austin is worth $176,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $53,750, which is more affordable than 26% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $753 a month. 72.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Port Austin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $753 | $955 |
| Median household income | $53,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 48.6% | — |
Who lives in Port Austin
| People | Port Austin | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 40.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 7.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Port Austin
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 16.8°F. About 32.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Austin since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on June 26, 2021 about 0.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on May 22, 2011.
Severe weather in Huron County since 1996
Huron County has been included in 8 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| September 18, 1986 | Flood | DR-774: Severe Storms & Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Huron County
Huron County had 11,234 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,295 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Port Austin itself the ACS puts it at 1.3%.
Towns near Port Austin
- Port Austin, MI4.7 mi · 622 people · home $159,100
- Dwight, MI6.1 mi · 708 people · home $119,700
- Hume, MI10.0 mi · 739 people · home $179,500
- Lincoln, MI11.7 mi · 727 people · home $170,200
- Lake, MI14.2 mi · 657 people · home $188,000
- Meade, MI15.0 mi · 698 people · home $137,500
- Rubicon, MI15.4 mi · 705 people · home $113,200
- Verona, MI17.6 mi · 1,210 people · home $223,600
Port Austin questions
Is Port Austin, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Port Austin scores better for retirees than 99% of Michigan towns and quieter than 91%. 40.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.9).
How much does a house cost in Port Austin?
The median owner-occupied home in Port Austin is valued at $176,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,750, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $753 a month.
What is the weather like in Port Austin?
July highs average 78.1°F and January lows 16.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.4 inches of precipitation a year and 47.2 inches of snow.
Does Port Austin get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Port Austin since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on June 26, 2021. 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)