The Town FilesSouth Branch, Michigan
Township in Crawford County · population 1,638 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $145,700
- Household income
- $52,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 74 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 60.2
South Branch is a township of 1,638 people in Crawford County, Michigan. The median home is worth $145,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 99% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 99% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 79% of Michigan towns.
How South Branch 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 Branch is worth $145,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $52,292, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $805 a month. 91.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Branch | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $145,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $805 | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,292 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 91.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 43.1% | — |
Who lives in South Branch
| People | South Branch | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 8.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.2% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.1% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.8 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in South Branch
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 9.7°F. About 33.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 74.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Branch since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 21, 2003.
Severe weather in Crawford County since 1996
Crawford County has been included in 9 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 Crawford County
Crawford County had 4,105 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,174 a year. Unemployment was 5.9% in 2023; in South Branch itself the ACS puts it at 8%.
Towns near South Branch
- Roscommon, MI9.3 mi · 981 people · home $93,900
- Big Creek, MI10.0 mi · 2,604 people · home $111,700
- Grayling, MI11.6 mi · 5,642 people · home $163,400
- Higgins, MI12.6 mi · 1,864 people · home $103,000
- Foster, MI12.9 mi · 788 people · home $150,200
- Gerrish, MI13.0 mi · 2,796 people · home $232,100
- Beaver Creek, MI13.3 mi · 1,515 people · home $154,200
- Grayling, MI13.8 mi · 1,867 people · home $160,800
South Branch questions
Is South Branch, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Branch scores better for retirees than 69% of Michigan towns and quieter than 99%. 34.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.2).
How much does a house cost in South Branch?
The median owner-occupied home in South Branch is valued at $145,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,292, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $805 a month.
What is the weather like in South Branch?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 9.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 74.2 inches of snow.
Does South Branch get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Branch 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)