The Town FilesRidgeway, Michigan
Township in Lenawee County · population 1,535 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $176,500
- Household income
- $80,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 38.4
Ridgeway is a township of 1,535 people in Lenawee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $176,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 97% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 91% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 78% of Michigan towns.
How Ridgeway 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 Ridgeway is worth $176,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $80,250, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $844 a month. 89.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ridgeway | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $176,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $844 | $955 |
| Median household income | $80,250 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Ridgeway
| People | Ridgeway | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ridgeway
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 36.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 151 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgeway 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 4.8 miles from the town center and killed 5. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 105 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 30, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 30 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 1, 2019.
Severe weather in Lenawee County since 1996
Lenawee County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, 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 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Lenawee County
Lenawee County had 25,796 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,357 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Ridgeway itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Towns near Ridgeway
- Britton, MI1.1 mi · 537 people · home $161,100
- Macon, MI4.7 mi · 1,330 people · home $268,200
- Tecumseh, MI5.8 mi · 2,042 people · home $308,600
- Raisin, MI5.9 mi · 7,900 people · home $241,400
- Deerfield, MI6.0 mi · 1,503 people · home $183,700
- Tecumseh, MI6.1 mi · 8,680 people · home $216,700
- Deerfield, MI6.4 mi · 901 people · home $167,600
- Milan, MI7.2 mi · 1,571 people · home $248,600
Ridgeway questions
Is Ridgeway, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ridgeway scores better for retirees than 41% of Michigan towns and quieter than 38%. 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Ridgeway?
The median owner-occupied home in Ridgeway is valued at $176,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,250, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $844 a month.
What is the weather like in Ridgeway?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.0 inches of precipitation a year and 37.5 inches of snow.
Does Ridgeway get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ridgeway 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)