The Town FilesSouth Boardman, Michigan
Community in Kalkaska County · population 509 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,300
- Household income
- $83,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 79°
- Snow a year
- 132 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 33.6
South Boardman is a community of 509 people in Kalkaska County, Michigan. The median home is worth $193,300, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 72% of Michigan towns.
How South Boardman 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 Boardman is worth $193,300, close to the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $83,750, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. 86.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Boardman | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 5.4% | — |
Who lives in South Boardman
| People | South Boardman | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.6 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in South Boardman
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 35.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 132.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 184 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Boardman since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 3.6 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 18, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 7, 1980.
Severe weather in Kalkaska County since 1996
Kalkaska County has been included in 7 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 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 Kalkaska County
Kalkaska County had 4,860 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,400 a year. Unemployment was 5.6% in 2023; in South Boardman itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Towns near South Boardman
- Boardman, MI1.4 mi · 1,479 people · home $177,800
- Springfield, MI5.8 mi · 1,562 people · home $159,600
- Orange, MI7.1 mi · 1,250 people · home $200,800
- Kalkaska, MI7.5 mi · 5,027 people · home $173,900
- Fife Lake, MI7.7 mi · 1,526 people · home $248,000
- Kalkaska, MI8.3 mi · 2,132 people · home $155,600
- Whitewater, MI10.1 mi · 2,688 people · home $373,000
- Paradise, MI11.2 mi · 4,952 people · home $265,800
South Boardman questions
Is South Boardman, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Boardman scores better for retirees than 13% of Michigan towns and quieter than 67%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in South Boardman?
The median owner-occupied home in South Boardman is valued at $193,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,750, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in South Boardman?
July highs average 79.0°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.3 inches of precipitation a year and 132.1 inches of snow.
Does South Boardman get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Boardman since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2007. 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)