The Town FilesRich, Michigan
Township in Lapeer County · population 1,500 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $279,200
- Household income
- $66,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 40.2
Rich is a township of 1,500 people in Lapeer County, Michigan. The median home is worth $279,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 91% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 88% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 83% of Michigan towns.
How Rich 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 Rich is worth $279,200, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $66,000, which is more affordable than 6% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,682 a month. 94.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rich | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $279,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,682 | $955 |
| Median household income | $66,000 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.0% | — |
Who lives in Rich
| People | Rich | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 37.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.1% | 88.8% |
Weather in Rich
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 14.6°F. About 34.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rich since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on June 8, 1953 about 9.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 22, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 2, 1984.
Severe weather in Lapeer County since 1996
Lapeer County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| 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 |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Lapeer County
Lapeer County had 21,986 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,778 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Rich itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Towns near Rich
- Fostoria, MI3.8 mi · 664 people · home $123,300
- Mayville, MI4.9 mi · 922 people · home $121,300
- Watertown, MI5.8 mi · 2,091 people · home $161,600
- Deerfield, MI6.0 mi · 5,764 people · home $184,600
- North Branch, MI6.2 mi · 1,096 people · home $152,000
- Burlington, MI6.2 mi · 1,414 people · home $174,100
- Barnes Lake, MI6.6 mi · 768 people · home $225,900
- Dayton, MI6.7 mi · 1,920 people · home $181,800
Rich questions
Is Rich, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rich scores better for retirees than 26% of Michigan towns and quieter than 52%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.2).
How much does a house cost in Rich?
The median owner-occupied home in Rich is valued at $279,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,000, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,682 a month.
What is the weather like in Rich?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 14.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.3 inches of precipitation a year and 48.5 inches of snow.
Does Rich get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rich since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on June 8, 1953. 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)