The Town FilesSolon, Michigan
Township in Leelanau County · population 1,562 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $376,100
- Household income
- $96,833
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 143 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 46.7
Solon is a township of 1,562 people in Leelanau County, Michigan. The median home is worth $376,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 91% of Michigan towns, better for families than 90% of Michigan towns.
How Solon 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 Solon is worth $376,100, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $96,833, which is more affordable than 9% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,045 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Solon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $376,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,045 | $955 |
| Median household income | $96,833 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 16.9% | — |
Who lives in Solon
| People | Solon | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.0% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Solon
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 15.9°F. About 35.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 143.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Solon since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1956 about 7.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 22, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 21, 2025.
Severe weather in Leelanau County since 1996
Leelanau 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 Leelanau County
Leelanau County had 6,662 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,322 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Solon itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Towns near Solon
- Greilickville, MI5.2 mi · 1,634 people · home $418,500
- Kasson, MI5.3 mi · 1,647 people · home $402,600
- Elmwood, MI5.5 mi · 4,892 people · home $436,400
- Centerville, MI6.1 mi · 1,243 people · home $444,400
- Long Lake, MI7.6 mi · 9,956 people · home $410,600
- Almira, MI8.1 mi · 3,873 people · home $284,600
- Bingham, MI8.9 mi · 2,577 people · home $373,200
- Traverse City, MI9.5 mi · 15,678 people · home $415,400
Solon questions
Is Solon, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Solon scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 84%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 46.7).
How much does a house cost in Solon?
The median owner-occupied home in Solon is valued at $376,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $96,833, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,045 a month.
What is the weather like in Solon?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 15.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.7 inches of precipitation a year and 143.3 inches of snow.
Does Solon get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Solon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1956. 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)