The Town FilesTorch Lake, Michigan
Township in Houghton County · population 1,893 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $170,700
- Household income
- $69,938
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 77°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 53.3
Torch Lake is a township of 1,893 people in Houghton County, Michigan. The median home is worth $170,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 82% of Michigan towns, hipper than 82% of Michigan towns, more of a college town than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Torch 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
The median home in Torch Lake is worth $170,700, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $69,938, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 94.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Torch Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $170,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $725 | $955 |
| Median household income | $69,938 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 45.1% | — |
Who lives in Torch Lake
| People | Torch Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.3 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.6% | 88.8% |
Weather in Torch Lake
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F. About 31.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 194 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Torch Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 11, 1987 about 7.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 1987.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 20, 2011.
Severe weather in Houghton County since 1996
Houghton County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| August 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4381: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Houghton County
Houghton County had 12,124 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,867 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Torch Lake itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Torch Lake
- Hubbell, MI6.4 mi · 908 people · home $85,400
- Lake Linden, MI7.0 mi · 1,014 people · home $97,000
- Schoolcraft, MI7.3 mi · 1,992 people · home $140,000
- Dollar Bay, MI7.4 mi · 1,061 people · home $153,100
- Osceola, MI8.7 mi · 1,822 people · home $124,300
- Franklin, MI9.1 mi · 1,507 people · home $196,800
- Chassell, MI9.4 mi · 876 people · home $167,600
- Houghton, MI10.0 mi · 8,386 people · home $254,500
Torch Lake questions
Is Torch Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Torch Lake scores better for retirees than 82% of Michigan towns and quieter than 41%. 34.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.3).
How much does a house cost in Torch Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Torch Lake is valued at $170,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $69,938, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Torch Lake?
July highs average 76.7°F and January lows 9.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 31.6 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Torch Lake get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Torch Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 11, 1987. 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)