The Town FilesVandercook Lake, Michigan
Community in Jackson County · population 4,579 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,600
- Household income
- $59,262
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 42.4
Vandercook Lake is a community of 4,579 people in Jackson County, Michigan. The median home is worth $136,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Michigan towns, hipper than 89% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Vandercook 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 Vandercook Lake is worth $136,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $59,262, which is more affordable than 84% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,141 a month. 92.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vandercook Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,141 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,262 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Vandercook Lake
| People | Vandercook Lake | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 18.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 20.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Vandercook Lake
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 17.5°F. About 32.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.9 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandercook Lake since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on March 12, 1976 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 42 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 1, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 27, 1991.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| June 30, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1527: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| January 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 55,945 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,139 a year. Unemployment was 4% in 2023; in Vandercook Lake itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Towns near Vandercook Lake
- Summit, MI2.3 mi · 22,920 people · home $197,400
- Jackson, MI3.7 mi · 31,309 people · home $103,200
- Michigan Center, MI4.1 mi · 4,609 people · home $167,100
- Napoleon, MI4.7 mi · 6,789 people · home $229,000
- Liberty, MI5.8 mi · 3,059 people · home $249,900
- Leoni, MI7.1 mi · 13,847 people · home $196,200
- Blackman, MI7.5 mi · 25,642 people · home $169,000
- Spring Arbor, MI7.9 mi · 8,530 people · home $217,700
Vandercook Lake questions
Is Vandercook Lake, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vandercook Lake scores better for retirees than 5% of Michigan towns and quieter than 25%. 20.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Vandercook Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Vandercook Lake is valued at $136,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,262, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $1,141 a month.
What is the weather like in Vandercook Lake?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 17.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37.9 inches of snow.
Does Vandercook Lake get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vandercook Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on March 12, 1976. 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)