The Town FilesYpsilanti, Michigan
City in Washtenaw County · population 20,648 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $232,700
- Household income
- $46,588
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 59 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 27.7
Ypsilanti is a city of 20,648 people in Washtenaw County, Michigan. The median home is worth $232,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks hipper than 100% of Michigan towns, better transit than 100% of Michigan towns, better for young professionals than 99% of Michigan towns.
How Ypsilanti 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 Ypsilanti is worth $232,700, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $46,588, which is more affordable than 2% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $1,080 a month. 33.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ypsilanti | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $232,700 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $1,080 | $955 |
| Median household income | $46,588 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 33.2% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1956 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Ypsilanti
| People | Ypsilanti | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27.7 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.9% | 88.8% |
Weather in Ypsilanti
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.3°F. About 37.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 59.3 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ypsilanti since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 4, 1969 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 60 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on April 9, 2001.
Severe weather in Washtenaw County since 1996
Washtenaw County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Flood | DR-4925: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| July 15, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4607: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes |
| 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 Washtenaw County
Washtenaw County had 217,948 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $74,298 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Ypsilanti itself the ACS puts it at 8.5%.
Public schools in Ypsilanti
16 public schools with 5,525 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortis Academy (charter) | K-8 | 639 | 18.8 |
| South Pointe Scholars Charter Academy (charter) | K-8 | 604 | 17.3 |
| Washtenaw International High School | 9-12 | 537 | 16.3 |
| ACTech High School | 9-12 | 469 | 18.8 |
| Early College Alliance | 9-12 | 442 | 24.6 |
| Ypsilanti Community Middle School | 5-8 | 419 | 12.7 |
| Ypsilanti International Elementary School | PK-5 | 381 | 13.1 |
| Washtenaw Alliance for Virtual Education | 8-12 | 347 | 28.9 |
| Estabrook Elementary | 1-8 | 324 | 11.6 |
| Perry Early Learning Center | PK-1 | 258 | 8.3 |
| Holmes Elementary | K-6 | 246 | 10.3 |
| Washtenaw International Middle Academy | 6-8 | 207 | — |
Towns near Ypsilanti
- Ypsilanti, MI2.4 mi · 55,670 people · home $233,900
- Superior, MI4.2 mi · 14,832 people · home $305,800
- Pittsfield, MI5.4 mi · 39,147 people · home $401,200
- Ann Arbor, MI6.0 mi · 123,851 people · home $453,400
- Ann Arbor, MI6.5 mi · 4,673 people · home $659,400
- Van Buren, MI7.2 mi · 30,375 people · home $269,700
- Belleville, MI7.7 mi · 4,008 people · home $148,300
- Augusta, MI8.0 mi · 7,083 people · home $296,500
Ypsilanti questions
Is Ypsilanti, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ypsilanti scores better for retirees than 1% of Michigan towns and quieter than 0%. 9.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 27.7).
How much does a house cost in Ypsilanti?
The median owner-occupied home in Ypsilanti is valued at $232,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,588, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,080 a month.
What is the weather like in Ypsilanti?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 16.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.9 inches of precipitation a year and 59.3 inches of snow.
Does Ypsilanti get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Ypsilanti since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 4, 1969. 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)