The Town FilesWilson, Michigan
Township in Charlevoix County · population 1,858 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,500
- Household income
- $94,844
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 122 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 53.5
Wilson is a township of 1,858 people in Charlevoix County, Michigan. The median home is worth $299,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 100% of Michigan towns, better for a vacation home than 97% of Michigan towns, more upscale than 84% 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 $299,500, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $94,844, which is more affordable than 31% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $970 a month. 94.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Wilson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,500 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $970 | $955 |
| Median household income | $94,844 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 94.8% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 7.0% | — |
Who lives in Wilson
| People | Wilson | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.5 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.5% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.5% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.2% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 88.8% |
Weather in Wilson
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 32.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 122.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 162 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. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 3, 1974 about 6.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 1, 2002.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 8, 2016.
Severe weather in Charlevoix County since 1996
Charlevoix County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| 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 Charlevoix County
Charlevoix County had 10,983 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,950 a year. Unemployment was 4.6% in 2023; in Wilson itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Towns near Wilson
- Boyne City, MI3.4 mi · 3,816 people · home $249,000
- East Jordan, MI5.0 mi · 2,239 people · home $148,000
- Evangeline, MI6.0 mi · 767 people · home $384,100
- Jordan, MI6.6 mi · 887 people · home $205,900
- South Arm, MI6.7 mi · 1,939 people · home $262,400
- Boyne Valley, MI7.4 mi · 1,425 people · home $203,300
- Melrose, MI7.6 mi · 1,405 people · home $262,600
- Echo, MI8.4 mi · 952 people · home $235,600
Wilson questions
Is Wilson, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Wilson scores better for retirees than 79% of Michigan towns and quieter than 50%. 26.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.5).
How much does a house cost in Wilson?
The median owner-occupied home in Wilson is valued at $299,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $94,844, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $970 a month.
What is the weather like in Wilson?
July highs average 82.6°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 122.2 inches of snow.
Does Wilson get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Wilson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 3, 1974. 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)