The Town FilesSumner, Michigan
Township in Gratiot County · population 1,863 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $126,300
- Household income
- $57,245
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 45.6
Sumner is a township of 1,863 people in Gratiot County, Michigan. The median home is worth $126,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 87% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 77% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 73% of Michigan towns.
How Sumner 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 Sumner is worth $126,300, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $57,245, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $826 a month. 86.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Sumner | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $126,300 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $826 | $955 |
| Median household income | $57,245 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 86.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Sumner
| People | Sumner | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.0% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.6% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Sumner
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumner since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on April 11, 1965 about 8.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 27, 2012.
Severe weather in Gratiot County since 1996
Gratiot County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| 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 |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Gratiot County
Gratiot County had 12,359 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,845 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Sumner itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Towns near Sumner
- Arcada, MI5.5 mi · 1,671 people · home $218,900
- Ferris, MI5.5 mi · 1,331 people · home $174,800
- Seville, MI5.8 mi · 2,132 people · home $136,100
- New Haven, MI6.0 mi · 1,064 people · home $207,800
- Alma, MI7.3 mi · 9,488 people · home $115,900
- Richland, MI7.8 mi · 2,646 people · home $142,100
- Crystal, MI7.9 mi · 2,619 people · home $194,000
- Pine River, MI8.7 mi · 2,348 people · home $156,200
Sumner questions
Is Sumner, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Sumner scores better for retirees than 27% of Michigan towns and quieter than 87%. 21.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.6).
How much does a house cost in Sumner?
The median owner-occupied home in Sumner is valued at $126,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $57,245, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $826 a month.
What is the weather like in Sumner?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 39.3 inches of snow.
Does Sumner get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Sumner since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on April 11, 1965. 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)