White Oak, Michigan
Township in Ingham County · population 1,199 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $236,900
- Household income
- $98,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 51.0
White Oak is a township of 1,199 people in Ingham County, Michigan. The median home is worth $236,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks easier by car than 96% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 81% of Michigan towns, better for retirees than 73% of Michigan towns.
How White Oak 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 White Oak is worth $236,900, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $98,250, which is more affordable than 80% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $873 a month. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | White Oak | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $236,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $873 | $955 |
| Median household income | $98,250 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in White Oak
| People | White Oak | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 16.7% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 33.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 88.8% |
Weather in White Oak
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 14.4°F. About 33.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Oak since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on August 24, 2023 about 5.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 5 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 9, 1991.
Severe weather in Ingham County since 1996
Ingham County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| July 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1777: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Ingham County
Ingham County had 155,500 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,532 a year. Unemployment was 3.9% in 2023; in White Oak itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Towns near White Oak
- Leroy, MI5.1 mi · 3,791 people · home $193,200
- Dansville, MI5.1 mi · 529 people · home $206,000
- Ingham, MI5.4 mi · 2,401 people · home $270,400
- Iosco, MI6.2 mi · 3,870 people · home $319,500
- Stockbridge, MI6.8 mi · 3,912 people · home $230,500
- Webberville, MI6.8 mi · 1,288 people · home $162,100
- Handy, MI7.6 mi · 8,602 people · home $250,400
- Wheatfield, MI7.8 mi · 1,665 people · home $313,300
White Oak questions
Is White Oak, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, White Oak scores better for retirees than 73% of Michigan towns and quieter than 49%. 20.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in White Oak?
The median owner-occupied home in White Oak is valued at $236,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $98,250, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $873 a month.
What is the weather like in White Oak?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 14.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.1 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does White Oak get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of White Oak since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on August 24, 2023. 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)