The Town FilesYates, Michigan
Township in Lake County · population 755 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $132,600
- Household income
- $30,000
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 44.8
Yates is a township of 755 people in Lake County, Michigan. The median home is worth $132,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 86% of Michigan towns, quieter than 85% of Michigan towns, better for first-time buyers than 76% of Michigan towns.
How Yates 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 Yates is worth $132,600, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $30,000, which is more affordable than 4% of Michigan towns. 78.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Yates | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $132,600 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | — | $955 |
| Median household income | $30,000 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 78.7% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 61.5% | — |
Who lives in Yates
| People | Yates | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.8 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 15.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.7% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 29.1% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 7.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 2.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 42.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 88.8% |
Weather in Yates
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 168 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yates since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 26, 1951 about 5.7 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 3 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 28, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 6 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on September 7, 2021.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 9 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 |
| 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 Lake County
Lake County had 1,721 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $39,827 a year. Unemployment was 7% in 2023; in Yates itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Towns near Yates
- Chase, MI5.6 mi · 1,153 people · home $185,400
- Pleasant Plains, MI5.7 mi · 1,603 people · home $103,500
- Baldwin, MI6.1 mi · 902 people · home $106,300
- Lilley, MI8.0 mi · 835 people · home $134,400
- Barton, MI8.1 mi · 706 people · home $207,000
- Pinora, MI8.5 mi · 757 people · home $123,900
- Webber, MI8.9 mi · 2,384 people · home $108,500
- Lake, MI11.6 mi · 810 people · home $169,800
Yates questions
Is Yates, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Yates scores better for retirees than 16% of Michigan towns and quieter than 85%. 28.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.8).
How much does a house cost in Yates?
The median owner-occupied home in Yates is valued at $132,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,000, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Yates?
July highs average 81.3°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 62.2 inches of snow.
Does Yates get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Yates since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 26, 1951. 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)