The Town FilesRiga, Michigan
Township in Lenawee County · population 1,286 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $199,600
- Household income
- $86,131
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 34 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 53.1
Riga is a township of 1,286 people in Lenawee County, Michigan. The median home is worth $199,600, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Michigan towns, better for families than 91% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Riga 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 Riga is worth $199,600, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $86,131, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,104 a month. 93.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riga | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $199,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,104 | $955 |
| Median household income | $86,131 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riga
| People | Riga | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Riga
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 33.7 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riga since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 20, 1979 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 20, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 27, 1991.
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 Riga itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Towns near Riga
- Blissfield, MI4.4 mi · 3,277 people · home $169,900
- Metamora, OH5.5 mi · 566 people · home $164,600
- Ogden, MI5.8 mi · 913 people · home $198,700
- Blissfield, MI6.1 mi · 3,924 people · home $173,500
- Whiteford, MI6.3 mi · 4,590 people · home $277,900
- Sylvania, OH7.5 mi · 19,011 people · home $249,200
- Deerfield, MI8.5 mi · 1,503 people · home $183,700
- Deerfield, MI8.8 mi · 901 people · home $167,600
Riga questions
Is Riga, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riga scores better for retirees than 38% of Michigan towns and quieter than 41%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.1).
How much does a house cost in Riga?
The median owner-occupied home in Riga is valued at $199,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $86,131, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,104 a month.
What is the weather like in Riga?
July highs average 86.5°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 33.7 inches of snow.
Does Riga get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riga since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 20, 1979. 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)