The Town FilesWest Branch, Michigan
City in Ogemaw County · population 2,351 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,800
- Household income
- $41,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 53 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 43.0
West Branch is a city of 2,351 people in Ogemaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $147,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 86% of Michigan towns, better transit than 86% of Michigan towns.
How West Branch 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 West Branch is worth $147,800, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $41,250, which is more affordable than 16% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $842 a month. 41.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Branch | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,800 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $842 | $955 |
| Median household income | $41,250 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 41.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.4% | — |
Who lives in West Branch
| People | West Branch | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.6% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in West Branch
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 10.4°F. About 33.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 53.0 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 177 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Branch since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 30, 1976 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Ogemaw County since 1996
Ogemaw 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 |
| 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 27, 1999 | Snowstorm | EM-3137: Mi - Severe Weather 1/2 /99 |
Jobs and pay in Ogemaw County
Ogemaw County had 6,008 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,697 a year. Unemployment was 6.6% in 2023; in West Branch itself the ACS puts it at 7%.
Public schools in West Branch
2 public schools with 1,177 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surline Elementary School | PK-4 | 594 | 15.2 |
| Surline Middle School | 5-8 | 583 | 16.7 |
Towns near West Branch
- West Branch, MI3.7 mi · 2,567 people · home $171,600
- Ogemaw, MI3.9 mi · 1,154 people · home $206,600
- Horton, MI5.4 mi · 902 people · home $164,400
- Edwards, MI6.0 mi · 1,361 people · home $188,000
- Klacking, MI7.6 mi · 572 people · home $168,400
- Churchill, MI8.4 mi · 1,543 people · home $178,600
- Mills, MI9.9 mi · 3,973 people · home $81,800
- St. Helen, MI10.5 mi · 2,735 people · home $95,600
West Branch questions
Is West Branch, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Branch scores better for retirees than 86% of Michigan towns and quieter than 25%. 27.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.0).
How much does a house cost in West Branch?
The median owner-occupied home in West Branch is valued at $147,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,250, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $842 a month.
What is the weather like in West Branch?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 10.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.6 inches of precipitation a year and 53.0 inches of snow.
Does West Branch get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Branch since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 30, 1976. 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)