The Town FilesTawas City, Michigan
City in Iosco County · population 1,834 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $138,000
- Household income
- $46,014
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 47.1
Tawas City is a city of 1,834 people in Iosco County, Michigan. The median home is worth $138,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 95% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 94% of Michigan towns, better transit than 82% of Michigan towns.
How Tawas City 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 Tawas City is worth $138,000, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $46,014, which is more affordable than 43% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $806 a month. 76.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tawas City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $138,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $806 | $955 |
| Median household income | $46,014 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 76.9% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.9% | — |
Who lives in Tawas City
| People | Tawas City | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.3% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 14.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Tawas City
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 13.3°F. About 32.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 49.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 157 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tawas City since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 8, 1953 about 6.4 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 13 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 7, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 21, 2003.
Severe weather in Iosco County since 1996
Iosco County has been included in 11 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 9, 2020 | Dam/Levee Break | DR-4547: Severe Storms 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 |
Jobs and pay in Iosco County
Iosco County had 7,724 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,332 a year. Unemployment was 6% in 2023; in Tawas City itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Public schools in Tawas City
6 public schools with 1,365 students, about 16.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clara B Bolen Elementary School | PK-4 | 436 | 17.4 |
| Tawas Area Middle School | 5-8 | 354 | 19.7 |
| Tawas Area High School | 9-12 | 348 | 20.5 |
| Alternative Educational Academy of Iosco County (charter) | 6-12 | 187 | 31.2 |
| Iosco RESA Special Education | PK-12 | 40 | 5.0 |
| Career and Technical Education Center | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Tawas City
- East Tawas, MI2.5 mi · 2,663 people · home $130,200
- Baldwin, MI3.3 mi · 1,614 people · home $181,000
- Tawas, MI3.8 mi · 1,733 people · home $159,000
- Wilber, MI7.7 mi · 720 people · home $168,900
- Sand Lake, MI8.2 mi · 1,418 people · home $157,500
- Grant, MI9.6 mi · 1,528 people · home $127,100
- Au Sable, MI10.9 mi · 2,016 people · home $116,100
- Whitney, MI11.3 mi · 907 people · home $183,100
Tawas City questions
Is Tawas City, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tawas City scores better for retirees than 69% of Michigan towns and quieter than 76%. 27.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Tawas City?
The median owner-occupied home in Tawas City is valued at $138,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,014, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $806 a month.
What is the weather like in Tawas City?
July highs average 80.2°F and January lows 13.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 49.2 inches of snow.
Does Tawas City get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tawas City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 8, 1953. 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)