The Town FilesRudyard, Michigan
Township in Chippewa County · population 1,289 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $144,700
- Household income
- $64,453
- Jan low / Jul high
- 8° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 94 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 47.0
Rudyard is a township of 1,289 people in Chippewa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $144,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Michigan towns, better for families than 83% of Michigan towns.
How Rudyard 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 Rudyard is worth $144,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $64,453, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $741 a month. 85.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Rudyard | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $144,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $741 | $955 |
| Median household income | $64,453 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 85.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 21.6% | — |
Who lives in Rudyard
| People | Rudyard | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 5.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Rudyard
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 8.2°F. About 35.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 94.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 181 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Rudyard since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, freezing, 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 |
| May 10, 1994 | Freezing | DR-1028: Severe Deep Freeze |
| January 27, 1978 | Snowstorm | EM-3057: Blizzards & Snowstorms |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 12,793 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,748 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in Rudyard itself the ACS puts it at 2.7%.
Public schools in Rudyard
1 public school with 602 students, about 13.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rudyard Area Schools | PK-12 | 602 | 13.1 |
Towns near Rudyard
- Kinross, MI6.3 mi · 6,139 people · home $127,300
- Kincheloe, MI8.7 mi · 2,587 people · home $110,700
- Marquette, MI10.3 mi · 611 people · home $145,100
- Superior, MI11.2 mi · 1,276 people · home $160,400
- St. Ignace, MI12.6 mi · 973 people · home $179,400
- Brimley, MI13.1 mi · 501 people · home $146,400
- Dafter, MI13.2 mi · 1,327 people · home $161,900
- Pickford, MI14.1 mi · 2,791 people · home $167,400
Rudyard questions
Is Rudyard, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Rudyard scores better for retirees than 69% of Michigan towns and quieter than 73%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.0).
How much does a house cost in Rudyard?
The median owner-occupied home in Rudyard is valued at $144,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $64,453, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $741 a month.
What is the weather like in Rudyard?
July highs average 78.6°F and January lows 8.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.5 inches of precipitation a year and 94.1 inches of snow.
Does Rudyard get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Rudyard in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)