The Town FilesSouth Gull Lake, Michigan
Community in Kalamazoo County · population 1,179 (2020 Census)
- Household income
- $188,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 65 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 54.3
South Gull Lake is a community of 1,179 people in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 94% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 80% of Michigan towns.
How South Gull Lake 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
Median rent is $335 a month. 81.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Gull Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $335 | $955 |
| Median household income | $188,750 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 81.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.3% | — |
Who lives in South Gull Lake
| People | South Gull Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 54.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 87.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 41.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in South Gull Lake
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 18.8°F. About 39.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 64.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 19 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Gull Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 2, 1977 about 4.0 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 107 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 29, 1987.
Severe weather in Kalamazoo County since 1996
Kalamazoo County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, 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 |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County had 120,708 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,730 a year. Unemployment was 3.7% in 2023; in South Gull Lake itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Towns near South Gull Lake
- Ross, MI2.7 mi · 4,851 people · home $370,900
- Richland, MI2.8 mi · 946 people · home $289,300
- Richland, MI3.5 mi · 8,693 people · home $309,500
- Augusta, MI4.3 mi · 864 people · home $140,600
- Barry, MI5.8 mi · 3,417 people · home $344,100
- Galesburg, MI6.6 mi · 2,049 people · home $120,800
- Charleston, MI7.1 mi · 1,904 people · home $244,600
- Level Park-Oak Park, MI7.1 mi · 3,260 people · home $124,500
South Gull Lake questions
Is South Gull Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Gull Lake scores better for retirees than 71% of Michigan towns and quieter than 27%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 54.3).
What is the weather like in South Gull Lake?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 18.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.5 inches of precipitation a year and 64.6 inches of snow.
Does South Gull Lake get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Gull Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 2, 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)