The Town FilesPorter, Michigan
Township in Midland County · population 1,270 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $166,800
- Household income
- $76,316
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 38.9
Porter is a township of 1,270 people in Midland County, Michigan. The median home is worth $166,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 90% of Michigan towns, better for families than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Porter 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 Porter is worth $166,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $76,316, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,611 a month. 93.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Porter | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $166,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,611 | $955 |
| Median household income | $76,316 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.7% | — |
Who lives in Porter
| People | Porter | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.6% | — |
| Work from home | 16.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Porter
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.6°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 42.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 136 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porter since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 14, 1974 about 8.3 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 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 7, 2020.
Severe weather in Midland County since 1996
Midland County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 21, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | EM-3525: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4326: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Midland County
Midland County had 38,288 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $72,021 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Porter itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Porter
- Mount Haley, MI5.1 mi · 1,609 people · home $169,500
- Wheeler, MI5.6 mi · 2,612 people · home $115,400
- Jasper, MI6.2 mi · 1,060 people · home $161,700
- Lee, MI6.5 mi · 3,985 people · home $166,500
- Jonesfield, MI6.8 mi · 1,618 people · home $143,500
- Breckenridge, MI7.3 mi · 1,238 people · home $111,500
- Merrill, MI7.9 mi · 663 people · home $93,200
- Bethany, MI8.2 mi · 1,773 people · home $172,400
Porter questions
Is Porter, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Porter scores better for retirees than 26% of Michigan towns and quieter than 70%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Porter?
The median owner-occupied home in Porter is valued at $166,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,316, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $1,611 a month.
What is the weather like in Porter?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 16.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 42.7 inches of snow.
Does Porter get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Porter 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)