The Town FilesSims, Michigan
Township in Arenac County · population 986 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $204,000
- Household income
- $59,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 60.2
Sims is a township of 986 people in Arenac County, Michigan. The median home is worth $204,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 93% of Michigan towns, quieter than 93% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 81% of Michigan towns.
How Sims 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 Sims is worth $204,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $59,583, which is more affordable than 22% of Michigan towns. 97.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sims | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $204,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,583 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 97.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 53.9% | — |
Who lives in Sims
| People | Sims | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 18.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Sims
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 30.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sims since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 4, 1977 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 23, 2023.
Severe weather in Arenac County since 1996
Arenac County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Arenac County
Arenac County had 4,077 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,876 a year. Unemployment was 6.9% in 2023; in Sims itself the ACS puts it at 6.4%.
Towns near Sims
- Whitney, MI3.9 mi · 907 people · home $183,100
- Au Gres, MI5.6 mi · 945 people · home $159,000
- Au Gres, MI8.0 mi · 896 people · home $209,700
- Turner, MI9.8 mi · 519 people · home $117,400
- Caseville, MI13.8 mi · 1,674 people · home $203,800
- Arenac, MI14.0 mi · 871 people · home $142,000
- Mason, MI15.0 mi · 750 people · home $109,100
- Tawas City, MI15.2 mi · 1,834 people · home $138,000
Sims questions
Is Sims, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sims scores better for retirees than 93% of Michigan towns and quieter than 93%. 41.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.2).
How much does a house cost in Sims?
The median owner-occupied home in Sims is valued at $204,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,583, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Sims?
July highs average 80.1°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.7 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Sims get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sims since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 4, 1977. 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)