The Town FilesSouth Arm, Michigan
Township in Charlevoix County · population 1,939 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $262,400
- Household income
- $84,107
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 122 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 49.3
South Arm is a township of 1,939 people in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The median home is worth $262,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 95% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns.
How South Arm 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 South Arm is worth $262,400, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $84,107, which is more affordable than 37% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,479 a month. 87.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Arm | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $262,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,479 | $955 |
| Median household income | $84,107 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 23.2% | — |
Who lives in South Arm
| People | South Arm | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 13.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 24.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in South Arm
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 11.8°F. About 35.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 122.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Arm since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 3, 1974 about 6.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Charlevoix County since 1996
Charlevoix County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County had 10,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in South Arm itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Towns near South Arm
- East Jordan, MI1.9 mi · 2,239 people · home $148,000
- Echo, MI5.5 mi · 952 people · home $235,600
- Eveline, MI5.8 mi · 1,515 people · home $459,100
- Wilson, MI6.7 mi · 1,858 people · home $299,500
- Banks, MI6.8 mi · 1,588 people · home $248,800
- Marion, MI7.8 mi · 1,657 people · home $271,600
- Central Lake, MI8.0 mi · 960 people · home $167,100
- Central Lake, MI8.1 mi · 2,159 people · home $228,200
South Arm questions
Is South Arm, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Arm scores better for retirees than 87% of Michigan towns and quieter than 82%. 25.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.3).
How much does a house cost in South Arm?
The median owner-occupied home in South Arm is valued at $262,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,107, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,479 a month.
What is the weather like in South Arm?
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 11.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.8 inches of precipitation a year and 122.2 inches of snow.
Does South Arm get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Arm since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 3, 1974. 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)