The Town FilesWawatam, Michigan
Township in Emmet County · population 711 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $226,900
- Household income
- $49,318
- Jan low / Jul high
- 11° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 82 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 50.5
Wawatam is a township of 711 people in Emmet County, Michigan. The median home is worth $226,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 92% of Michigan towns, quieter than 91% of Michigan towns.
How Wawatam 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 Wawatam is worth $226,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.6 times the median household income of $49,318, which is more affordable than 3% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $980 a month. 72.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wawatam | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $226,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $980 | $955 |
| Median household income | $49,318 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 39.4% | — |
Who lives in Wawatam
| People | Wawatam | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.4% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 16.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Wawatam
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 11.1°F. About 33.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 82.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 0 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Wawatam since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on September 30, 2019.
Severe weather in Emmet County since 1996
Emmet County has been included in 7 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 22, 2025 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4880: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Emmet County
Emmet County had 17,742 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,435 a year. Unemployment was 5.7% in 2023; in Wawatam itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Towns near Wawatam
- Carp Lake, MI3.4 mi · 748 people · home $195,200
- Mackinaw City, MI3.6 mi · 846 people · home $224,300
- Bliss, MI7.1 mi · 568 people · home $185,400
- McKinley, MI10.2 mi · 1,294 people · home $117,300
- St. Ignace, MI10.8 mi · 2,306 people · home $132,200
- Munro, MI11.0 mi · 592 people · home $302,100
- Mackinac Island, MI11.5 mi · 583 people · home $733,300
- Center, MI11.7 mi · 525 people · home $219,500
Wawatam questions
Is Wawatam, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wawatam scores better for retirees than 92% of Michigan towns and quieter than 91%. 31.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 50.5).
How much does a house cost in Wawatam?
The median owner-occupied home in Wawatam is valued at $226,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,318, so homes cost about 4.6 times income. Median rent is $980 a month.
What is the weather like in Wawatam?
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 11.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.4 inches of precipitation a year and 82.3 inches of snow.
Does Wawatam get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Wawatam 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)