The Town FilesWilson, Michigan
Township in Alpena County · population 1,972 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $165,400
- Household income
- $62,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 78 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 47.1
Wilson is a township of 1,972 people in Alpena County, Michigan. The median home is worth $165,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 88% of Michigan towns, quieter than 86% of Michigan towns.
How Wilson 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 Wilson is worth $165,400, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $62,143, which is more affordable than 61% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,097 a month. 90.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $165,400 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,097 | $955 |
| Median household income | $62,143 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 90.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 6.4% | — |
Who lives in Wilson
| People | Wilson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.1% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 13.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 5.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.0% | 88.8% |
Weather in Wilson
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 29.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 77.6 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 18, 2007 about 4.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 18, 2007.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 7, 2025.
Severe weather in Alpena County since 1996
Alpena 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 Alpena County
Alpena County had 12,191 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,642 a year. Unemployment was 4.5% in 2023; in Wilson itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Wilson
1 public school with 242 students, about 20.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson Elementary | K-5 | 242 | 20.2 |
Towns near Wilson
- Green, MI8.6 mi · 1,117 people · home $167,100
- Maple Ridge, MI9.1 mi · 1,559 people · home $166,000
- Ossineke, MI9.4 mi · 1,635 people · home $169,700
- Alpena, MI9.8 mi · 10,197 people · home $118,700
- Long Rapids, MI10.5 mi · 977 people · home $134,100
- Ossineke, MI11.5 mi · 932 people · home $159,200
- Alpena, MI11.8 mi · 9,116 people · home $183,600
- Sanborn, MI12.3 mi · 2,084 people · home $155,700
Wilson questions
Is Wilson, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilson scores better for retirees than 68% of Michigan towns and quieter than 86%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Wilson?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilson is valued at $165,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,143, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,097 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilson?
July highs average 80.5°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 29.7 inches of precipitation a year and 77.6 inches of snow.
Does Wilson get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 18, 2007. 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)