The Town FilesWatersmeet, Michigan
Township in Gogebic County · population 1,456 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $264,800
- Household income
- $72,708
- Jan low / Jul high
- 2° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 109 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 61.2
Watersmeet is a township of 1,456 people in Gogebic County, Michigan. The median home is worth $264,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of Michigan towns, quieter than 96% of Michigan towns.
How Watersmeet 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 Watersmeet is worth $264,800, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $72,708, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $425 a month. 94.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watersmeet | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $264,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $425 | $955 |
| Median household income | $72,708 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.5% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 58.0% | — |
Who lives in Watersmeet
| People | Watersmeet | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.2 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 45.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 10.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.6% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 77.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Watersmeet
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 2.3°F. About 32.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 109.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 205 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Watersmeet since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on August 10, 2021.
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 Watersmeet itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Watersmeet
3 public schools with 233 students, about 8.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watersmeet Township School | K-12 | 139 | 7.3 |
| Northland Pines Elementary-Land O' Lakes | PK-4 | 53 | 13.3 |
| School of Options and Applied Research Middle (charter) | 5-8 | 41 | 10.3 |
Towns near Watersmeet
- Land O'Lakes, WI11.3 mi · 944 people · home $283,300
- Conover, WI13.9 mi · 1,318 people · home $273,600
- Phelps, WI15.7 mi · 1,238 people · home $240,100
- Stambaugh, MI16.4 mi · 1,200 people · home $188,100
- Plum Lake, WI19.7 mi · 553 people · home $285,000
- Iron River, MI20.1 mi · 1,052 people · home $153,600
- Washington, WI21.7 mi · 1,587 people · home $334,700
- Cloverland, WI22.6 mi · 1,068 people · home $272,000
Watersmeet questions
Is Watersmeet, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watersmeet scores better for retirees than 98% of Michigan towns and quieter than 96%. 45.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 61.2).
How much does a house cost in Watersmeet?
The median owner-occupied home in Watersmeet is valued at $264,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,708, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $425 a month.
What is the weather like in Watersmeet?
July highs average 77.8°F and January lows 2.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.9 inches of precipitation a year and 109.2 inches of snow.
Does Watersmeet get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Watersmeet in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)