The Town FilesVassar, Michigan
City in Tuscola County · population 2,727 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $143,200
- Household income
- $59,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 38.5
Vassar is a city of 2,727 people in Tuscola County, Michigan. The median home is worth $143,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Vassar 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 Vassar is worth $143,200, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $59,444, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $744 a month. 68.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vassar | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $143,200 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $744 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,444 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 68.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Vassar
| People | Vassar | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Vassar
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F. About 34.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.5 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 160 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vassar since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 21, 1996 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 25, 1998.
Severe weather in Tuscola County since 1996
Tuscola County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| 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 Tuscola County
Tuscola County had 12,102 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,754 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Vassar itself the ACS puts it at 10.9%.
Public schools in Vassar
3 public schools with 859 students, about 17.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vassar Senior High School | 6-12 | 474 | 16.9 |
| Central School | K-5 | 371 | 17.7 |
| Clarence Fischer Center | 6-12 | 14 | — |
Towns near Vassar
- Vassar, MI3.0 mi · 3,890 people · home $123,200
- Denmark, MI4.7 mi · 2,741 people · home $166,300
- Arbela, MI8.0 mi · 2,808 people · home $150,400
- Millington, MI8.3 mi · 4,246 people · home $174,600
- Frankenmuth, MI8.5 mi · 4,987 people · home $300,500
- Fremont, MI8.8 mi · 3,167 people · home $144,400
- Birch Run, MI11.8 mi · 5,888 people · home $216,700
- Caro, MI12.0 mi · 4,328 people · home $102,700
Vassar questions
Is Vassar, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vassar scores better for retirees than 12% of Michigan towns and quieter than 31%. 17.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Vassar?
The median owner-occupied home in Vassar is valued at $143,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,444, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $744 a month.
What is the weather like in Vassar?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 12.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.2 inches of precipitation a year and 48.5 inches of snow.
Does Vassar get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vassar since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 21, 1996. 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)