The Town FilesRock River, Michigan
Township in Alger County · population 1,231 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,800
- Household income
- $63,235
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 164 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 48.6
Rock River is a township of 1,231 people in Alger County, Michigan. The median home is worth $213,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 95% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns, quieter than 85% of Michigan towns.
How Rock River 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 Rock River is worth $213,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $63,235, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $713 a month. 97.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rock River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $713 | $955 |
| Median household income | $63,235 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.0% | — |
Who lives in Rock River
| People | Rock River | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Rock River
July highs average 77.9°F and January lows 8.0°F. About 35.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 164.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 193 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Rock River since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 6, 1964 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 6, 1964.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on July 19, 1978.
Severe weather in Alger County since 1996
Alger County has been included in 5 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, 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, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
| March 2, 1977 | Drought | EM-3035: Drought |
Jobs and pay in Alger County
Alger County had 2,650 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,474 a year. Unemployment was 7.7% in 2023; in Rock River itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Rock River
1 public school with 325 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Superior Central School | PK-12 | 325 | 14.8 |
Towns near Rock River
- Skandia, MI8.5 mi · 810 people · home $205,400
- Au Train, MI10.6 mi · 1,019 people · home $246,300
- Mathias, MI10.9 mi · 532 people · home $111,500
- West Branch, MI14.5 mi · 1,702 people · home $259,500
- Chocolay, MI14.7 mi · 5,899 people · home $246,800
- K. I. Sawyer, MI17.7 mi · 3,064 people · home $87,300
- Munising, MI18.8 mi · 1,986 people · home $117,300
- Maple Ridge, MI19.2 mi · 694 people · home $157,600
Rock River questions
Is Rock River, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rock River scores better for retirees than 90% of Michigan towns and quieter than 85%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Rock River?
The median owner-occupied home in Rock River is valued at $213,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,235, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $713 a month.
What is the weather like in Rock River?
July highs average 77.9°F and January lows 8.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.1 inches of precipitation a year and 164.0 inches of snow.
Does Rock River get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Rock River since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 6, 1964. 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)