The Town FilesWakefield, Michigan
City in Gogebic County · population 1,702 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $79,100
- Household income
- $55,759
- Jan low / Jul high
- 4° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 168 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 52.8
Wakefield is a city of 1,702 people in Gogebic County, Michigan. The median home is worth $79,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks quieter than 91% of Michigan towns, better transit than 89% of Michigan towns, hipper than 85% of Michigan towns.
How Wakefield 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 Wakefield is worth $79,100, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $55,759, which is more affordable than 100% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $649 a month. 82.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wakefield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $79,100 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $649 | $955 |
| Median household income | $55,759 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 82.1% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1948 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.1% | — |
Who lives in Wakefield
| People | Wakefield | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.4% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.0% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.5% | 88.8% |
Weather in Wakefield
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 3.9°F. About 37.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 168.4 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 187 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 11, 2016 about 4.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 11, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on July 28, 2006.
Severe weather in Gogebic County since 1996
Gogebic 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 Gogebic County
Gogebic County had 5,046 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,384 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Wakefield itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Wakefield
1 public school with 257 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WakefieldMarenisco School | PK-12 | 257 | 15.1 |
Towns near Wakefield
- Bessemer, MI5.5 mi · 1,805 people · home $69,900
- Bessemer, MI5.9 mi · 1,135 people · home $103,900
- Ironwood, MI10.5 mi · 5,045 people · home $83,100
- Ironwood, MI11.8 mi · 2,214 people · home $152,600
- Hurley, WI13.4 mi · 1,558 people · home $86,700
- Montreal, WI15.0 mi · 801 people · home $97,800
- Winchester, WI17.6 mi · 528 people · home $395,100
- Carp Lake, MI22.0 mi · 582 people · home $67,000
Wakefield questions
Is Wakefield, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wakefield scores better for retirees than 66% of Michigan towns and quieter than 91%. 28.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 52.8).
How much does a house cost in Wakefield?
The median owner-occupied home in Wakefield is valued at $79,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,759, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $649 a month.
What is the weather like in Wakefield?
July highs average 76.3°F and January lows 3.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.4 inches of precipitation a year and 168.4 inches of snow.
Does Wakefield get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Wakefield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 11, 2016. 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)