The Town FilesWheeler, Michigan
Township in Gratiot County · population 2,612 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $115,400
- Household income
- $61,149
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 42 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 42.8
Wheeler is a township of 2,612 people in Gratiot County, Michigan. The median home is worth $115,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Michigan towns, easier by car than 86% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 79% of Michigan towns.
How Wheeler 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 Wheeler is worth $115,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $61,149, which is more affordable than 96% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $694 a month. 75.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wheeler | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $115,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $694 | $955 |
| Median household income | $61,149 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Wheeler
| People | Wheeler | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.9% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.8% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.3% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 4.9% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in Wheeler
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F. About 34.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.8 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wheeler since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 15, 1982 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 9, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 5, 1997.
Severe weather in Gratiot County since 1996
Gratiot County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 10, 2001 | Snowstorm | EM-3160: Snow |
Jobs and pay in Gratiot County
Gratiot County had 12,359 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,845 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Wheeler itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Wheeler
- Richland, MI9.1 mi · 3,955 people · home $215,300
- St. Louis, MI9.7 mi · 7,010 people · home $119,200
- Ingersoll, MI11.9 mi · 2,775 people · home $190,000
- Lee, MI12.1 mi · 3,985 people · home $166,500
- Alma, MI12.1 mi · 9,488 people · home $115,900
- Ithaca, MI12.7 mi · 2,853 people · home $133,200
- Homer, MI13.4 mi · 3,993 people · home $190,600
- Coe, MI13.5 mi · 3,032 people · home $161,000
Wheeler questions
Is Wheeler, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wheeler scores better for retirees than 33% of Michigan towns and quieter than 46%. 17.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Wheeler?
The median owner-occupied home in Wheeler is valued at $115,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,149, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $694 a month.
What is the weather like in Wheeler?
July highs average 82.2°F and January lows 15.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.5 inches of precipitation a year and 41.8 inches of snow.
Does Wheeler get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wheeler since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 15, 1982. 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)