The Town FilesWatervliet, Michigan
City in Berrien County · population 1,669 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $137,500
- Household income
- $61,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 83 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 29.1
Watervliet is a city of 1,669 people in Berrien County, Michigan. The median home is worth $137,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 93% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 90% of Michigan towns, hipper than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Watervliet 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 Watervliet is worth $137,500, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $61,167, which is more affordable than 89% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $885 a month. 67.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Watervliet | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $137,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $885 | $955 |
| Median household income | $61,167 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 67.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1957 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Watervliet
| People | Watervliet | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 33.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.9% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 19.4 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Watervliet
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F. About 35.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 127 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watervliet since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 13, 1980 about 3.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 24, 2010.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 21, 2011.
Severe weather in Berrien County since 1996
Berrien County has been included in 12 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 Berrien County
Berrien County had 60,626 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,009 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Watervliet itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Watervliet
4 public schools with 1,119 students, about 19.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watervliet Senior High School | 9-12 | 376 | 19.8 |
| South Elementary School | PK-2 | 347 | 17.4 |
| Watervliet Middle School | 6-8 | 297 | 15.6 |
| WAY Watervliet High School | 9-12 | 99 | 99.0 |
Towns near Watervliet
- Watervliet, MI1.0 mi · 3,036 people · home $154,500
- Paw Paw Lake, MI1.9 mi · 3,323 people · home $191,700
- Coloma, MI2.6 mi · 1,465 people · home $177,100
- Coloma, MI2.8 mi · 5,051 people · home $203,700
- Hartford, MI4.2 mi · 3,021 people · home $150,000
- Hartford, MI4.9 mi · 2,515 people · home $108,700
- Bainbridge, MI5.7 mi · 2,682 people · home $220,600
- Hagar, MI5.8 mi · 3,243 people · home $237,700
Watervliet questions
Is Watervliet, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Watervliet scores better for retirees than 27% of Michigan towns and quieter than 16%. 9.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 29.1).
How much does a house cost in Watervliet?
The median owner-occupied home in Watervliet is valued at $137,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,167, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $885 a month.
What is the weather like in Watervliet?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 20.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 35.0 inches of precipitation a year and 82.8 inches of snow.
Does Watervliet get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Watervliet since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 13, 1980. 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)