The Town FilesZeeland, Michigan
City in Ottawa County · population 5,719 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $299,000
- Household income
- $52,628
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 37.1
Zeeland is a city of 5,719 people in Ottawa County, Michigan. The median home is worth $299,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks better transit than 99% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 95% of Michigan towns, better for cycling than 92% of Michigan towns.
How Zeeland 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 Zeeland is worth $299,000, above the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $52,628, which is more affordable than 1% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $951 a month. 64.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Zeeland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $299,000 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $951 | $955 |
| Median household income | $52,628 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 64.4% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Zeeland
| People | Zeeland | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.6% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 6.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 13.7 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.8% | 88.8% |
Weather in Zeeland
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F. About 34.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 76.1 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 123 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zeeland since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1956 about 3.3 miles from the town center and killed 14. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 14 deaths and 211 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 35 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 4, 1975.
Severe weather in Ottawa County since 1996
Ottawa County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| June 18, 2013 | Flood | DR-4121: Flooding |
| 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 Ottawa County
Ottawa County had 131,885 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,813 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Zeeland itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Zeeland
12 public schools with 5,784 students, about 16.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeeland East High School | 9-12 | 956 | 19.1 |
| Zeeland West High School | 9-12 | 953 | 19.4 |
| Cityside Middle School | 6-8 | 767 | 17.8 |
| Creekside Middle School | 5-8 | 581 | 15.7 |
| New Groningen School | K-5 | 534 | 15.3 |
| Quincy Elementary School | PK-5 | 478 | 15.4 |
| Woodbridge Elementary School | K-5 | 392 | 14.0 |
| Lincoln Elementary School | PK-5 | 368 | 14.7 |
| Innocademy (charter) | PK-12 | 267 | 10.3 |
| Roosevelt Elementary School | PK-5 | 262 | 11.9 |
| Zeeland Quest | K-8 | 146 | 14.6 |
| Venture Academy | 9-12 | 80 | 20.0 |
Towns near Zeeland
- Zeeland, MI2.8 mi · 12,008 people · home $357,500
- Holland, MI3.2 mi · 38,276 people · home $275,100
- Holland, MI5.4 mi · 34,378 people · home $252,200
- Beechwood, MI5.6 mi · 3,121 people · home $277,800
- Blendon, MI6.1 mi · 7,081 people · home $395,600
- Olive, MI6.7 mi · 5,007 people · home $283,800
- Overisel, MI6.8 mi · 3,133 people · home $344,300
- Fillmore, MI7.4 mi · 2,778 people · home $314,400
Zeeland questions
Is Zeeland, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Zeeland scores better for retirees than 19% of Michigan towns and quieter than 4%. 21.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Zeeland?
The median owner-occupied home in Zeeland is valued at $299,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,628, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $951 a month.
What is the weather like in Zeeland?
July highs average 81.7°F and January lows 19.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.8 inches of precipitation a year and 76.1 inches of snow.
Does Zeeland get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Zeeland since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1956. 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)