The Town FilesRiley, Michigan
Township in Clinton County · population 2,020 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $277,000
- Household income
- $95,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.0
Riley is a township of 2,020 people in Clinton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $277,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for families than 99% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 97% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Riley 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 Riley is worth $277,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $95,000, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $793 a month. 94.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Riley | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $277,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $793 | $955 |
| Median household income | $95,000 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Riley
| People | Riley | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 16.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Riley
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 143 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riley since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 21, 1967 about 5.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 26 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 9, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Clinton County since 1996
Clinton County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Clinton County
Clinton County had 18,614 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,866 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Riley itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Riley
1 public school with 303 students, about 17.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riley Elementary School | PK-5 | 303 | 17.8 |
Towns near Riley
- DeWitt, MI5.2 mi · 4,776 people · home $309,900
- Watertown, MI5.3 mi · 5,563 people · home $288,700
- Olive, MI5.4 mi · 2,535 people · home $296,100
- Wacousta, MI5.6 mi · 1,532 people · home $283,700
- Westphalia, MI5.9 mi · 2,444 people · home $296,800
- Bengal, MI7.3 mi · 1,138 people · home $267,800
- Westphalia, MI7.7 mi · 924 people · home $251,800
- DeWitt, MI7.9 mi · 15,073 people · home $276,000
Riley questions
Is Riley, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Riley scores better for retirees than 65% of Michigan towns and quieter than 63%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.0).
How much does a house cost in Riley?
The median owner-occupied home in Riley is valued at $277,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $95,000, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $793 a month.
What is the weather like in Riley?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 17.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 50.2 inches of snow.
Does Riley get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Riley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 21, 1967. 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)