The Town FilesSummit, Michigan
Township in Mason County · population 995 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $275,700
- Household income
- $94,141
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 59.2
Summit is a township of 995 people in Mason County, Michigan. The median home is worth $275,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 90% of Michigan towns, quieter than 86% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 78% of Michigan towns.
How Summit 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 Summit is worth $275,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $94,141, which is more affordable than 48% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,333 a month. 96.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Summit | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $275,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,333 | $955 |
| Median household income | $94,141 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 96.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 43.9% | — |
Who lives in Summit
| People | Summit | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 59.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 35.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 16.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Summit
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.2°F. About 38.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 152 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summit since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 28, 1991 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 28, 1991.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 3, 2012.
Severe weather in Mason County since 1996
Mason County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 24, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1226: Severe Storms |
Jobs and pay in Mason County
Mason County had 10,186 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,523 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Summit itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Towns near Summit
- Riverton, MI4.0 mi · 1,232 people · home $186,200
- Pere Marquette, MI5.0 mi · 2,416 people · home $297,400
- Pentwater, MI5.6 mi · 890 people · home $344,300
- Pentwater, MI6.3 mi · 1,652 people · home $378,600
- Ludington, MI7.0 mi · 7,655 people · home $201,100
- Weare, MI7.2 mi · 1,224 people · home $173,500
- Amber, MI7.5 mi · 2,529 people · home $228,700
- Eden, MI8.8 mi · 580 people · home $184,600
Summit questions
Is Summit, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Summit scores better for retirees than 78% of Michigan towns and quieter than 86%. 35.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 59.2).
How much does a house cost in Summit?
The median owner-occupied home in Summit is valued at $275,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,141, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,333 a month.
What is the weather like in Summit?
July highs average 79.9°F and January lows 16.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.9 inches of precipitation a year and 77.6 inches of snow.
Does Summit get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Summit since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 28, 1991. 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)