The Town FilesSand Lake, Michigan
Community in Iosco County · population 1,418 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $157,500
- Household income
- $58,162
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 60.5
Sand Lake is a community of 1,418 people in Iosco County, Michigan. The median home is worth $157,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for cycling than 98% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 91% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns.
How Sand 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 Sand Lake is worth $157,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $58,162, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $692 a month. 90.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sand Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $157,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $692 | $955 |
| Median household income | $58,162 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 56.9% | — |
Who lives in Sand Lake
| People | Sand Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 38.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 11.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 16.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 12.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 36.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Sand Lake
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sand Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 27, 1991 about 9.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 21, 2003.
Severe weather in Iosco County since 1996
Iosco County has been included in 11 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 |
| July 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Iosco County
Iosco County had 7,724 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,332 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Sand Lake itself the ACS puts it at 5.8%.
Towns near Sand Lake
- Grant, MI3.2 mi · 1,528 people · home $127,100
- Tawas, MI4.5 mi · 1,733 people · home $159,000
- Wilber, MI8.1 mi · 720 people · home $168,900
- Reno, MI8.1 mi · 632 people · home $141,400
- Tawas City, MI8.2 mi · 1,834 people · home $138,000
- Plainfield, MI8.4 mi · 3,350 people · home $174,300
- Baldwin, MI9.3 mi · 1,614 people · home $181,000
- East Tawas, MI9.4 mi · 2,663 people · home $130,200
Sand Lake questions
Is Sand Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sand Lake scores better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns and quieter than 86%. 38.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.5).
How much does a house cost in Sand Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Sand Lake is valued at $157,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,162, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $692 a month.
What is the weather like in Sand Lake?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Sand Lake get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sand Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 27, 1991. 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)