The Town FilesRose Lake, Michigan
Township in Osceola County · population 1,406 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $175,200
- Household income
- $62,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 51.4
Rose Lake is a township of 1,406 people in Osceola County, Michigan. The median home is worth $175,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 82% of Michigan towns, quieter than 81% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Rose Lake 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 Rose Lake is worth $175,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $62,083, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $950 a month. 93.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rose Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $175,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $950 | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,083 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 43.7% | — |
Who lives in Rose Lake
| People | Rose Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Rose Lake
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F. About 37.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 175 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rose Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1985 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 8, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 8, 2003.
Severe weather in Osceola County since 1996
Osceola County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Osceola County
Osceola County had 8,011 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,080 a year. Unemployment was 4.8% in 2023; in Rose Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Rose Lake
- Le Roy, MI5.9 mi · 1,246 people · home $187,700
- Hartwick, MI6.2 mi · 591 people · home $160,000
- Sherman, MI6.8 mi · 991 people · home $225,400
- Osceola, MI7.7 mi · 943 people · home $154,000
- Lincoln, MI8.2 mi · 1,462 people · home $151,900
- Burdell, MI8.8 mi · 1,410 people · home $187,500
- Highland, MI9.3 mi · 1,148 people · home $189,700
- Evart, MI10.3 mi · 1,742 people · home $105,500
Rose Lake questions
Is Rose Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rose Lake scores better for retirees than 70% of Michigan towns and quieter than 81%. 28.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.4).
How much does a house cost in Rose Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Rose Lake is valued at $175,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,083, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $950 a month.
What is the weather like in Rose Lake?
July highs average 79.4°F and January lows 11.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.3 inches of precipitation a year and 67.9 inches of snow.
Does Rose Lake get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Rose Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 8, 1985. 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)