Livability Score

75
/100
i The AreaVibes Livability Score evaluates 9 different categories and creates an overall score out of 100. The higher the score, the better the area.

amenities F

There are not many amenities close to this location.
Coffee (1) F
Entertainment (3) C-
The Ontonagon Theater of Performing Arts
Theatre Arts
Ontonagon County Historical Society Museum
Museum
Ontonagon Lighthouse
Museum
Food and Drink (3) F
The Squeeze On Main
Fast Food
Roxey's Lounge
Bar
Sip and Snack
Sweets
Fitness (0) F
Groceries (2) F
The Little Cookie Store
Bakery
IGA
Grocery Store
Parks (4) F
River Road RV Park & Campground
Park
Ontonagon Township Park
Park
Shops (8) F
Hawley Lumber Company
Home Improvement
Holiday Stationstore
Convenience Store
True Value
Home Improvement
Krist Food Mart
Convenience Store
Family Dollar
Discount Store
M-64 Truck Stop
Convenience Store
See more Ontonagon amenity data

commute F

Of all people who commute, 0.0% take public transportation in Ontonagon.
Public Transit Stops (0)
Stops & Stations
F
Workers Taking Public Transit
0.0%
F
See more Ontonagon commute data

cost of living A+

The cost of living in Ontonagon is 76/100 - which is 15% lower than Michigan.
Cost of Living
Goods & Services, Housing, etc.
A+
Tax Rates
Income & Sales Tax
A+
See more Ontonagon cost of living data

crime A-

Ontonagon crime rates are 948 per 100k, which is 53% lower than Michigan
Property Crime
729 crimes per 100k
A+
Violent Crime
219 crimes per 100k
B+
See more Ontonagon crime data

employment F

The median income in Ontonagon is $39,032 - which is 23% lower than Michigan.
Med. Household Income
$39,032
F
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
B-
See more Ontonagon employment data

health A+

There are not many hospitals, police and fire stations,
Health & Safety (5)
Dentist, Doctor, Hospital, etc.
A+
Ontonagon Village Fire Hall
Fire Station
Strong Medical Center
Clinic
Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital
Hospital
Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital Family Practice Clinic
Clinic
Ontonagon County Sheriff Office
Police
Air Quality
Median Air Quality
A+
See more Ontonagon health & safety data

housing A+

Ontonagon home prices are $64,900 - which is 49% lower than Michigan
Home Price
$64,900
F
Home Appreciation Rate
7%
B
Home Affordability
1.7x (home price to income ratio)
A+
See more Ontonagon housing data

schools D

The Ontonagon graduation rate is 88% - which is 3% higher than Michigan
School Test Scores
37%
F
High School Grad. Rates
88%
B
Elementary Schools (1) F
Ontonagon Area School
High Schools (1) F
Ontonagon Area School
See more Ontonagon education data

ratings A+

Ontonagon has an overall rating of 98% from 3 reviews.
User Reviews (1)
From AreaVibes
A+
User Surveys (2)
From AreaVibes
A+
See more Ontonagon user rating data
Amenities Commute Cost of Living Crime Employment Health & Safety Housing Schools User Ratings
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Ontonagon Reviews

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Great Community, Beautiful Area, Hidden Gem 5 rating By Anonymous ( Aug 15, 2022) OVERVIEW

Ontonagon is a quiet harbor town, nestled around where the Ontonagon River meets Lake Superior. It's 15 miles north of the Porcupine Mountains, and around 50 miles south of Houghton, so it's out of the way for the typical tourist crowds.

The town itself is very simple,
...Read More including a main street and very little else. Local street names either refer to the vast wealth of mineral deposits (Quartz St, Copper St, etc) and natural landmarks, or allude to the region's history (LP Walsh Rd, Quarterline Rd).

When we first moved here, our neighbors warned us "there's not much that happens here," to which we grinned and affirmed that it was exactly what we were looking for.

If you don't mind making your own plans, marching to the beat of your own drum, being among all manner of wildlife, and immense amounts of snow in the winter, then Ontonagon is a great place to live.

ATTRACTIONS

While Ontonagon boasts few indoor attractions (Historical Museum, Old Lighthouse) there are an endless amount of outdoor activities to enjoy.

From exploring the abandoned mines and waterfalls, to hunting and bonfires on the beach, you'll find there is no shortage of things to do if you're an avid outdoorsman. The animals are bigger here, the forests are thicker, and the fish are far more edible than anywhere in the Lower Peninsula.

It's easy to spend an entire day getting lost on a trail in the Porkies, or an entire night staring at the visible arm of the Milky Way - and if you're lucky, maybe glimpse the aurora.

Just be sure to bring bug spray and a jacket that mosquitoes can't bite through - in the summer months, they are relentless. During hot days in the height of June/July, especially when the wind isn't blowing much, you'll also want to avoid the beach and open fields. The region has a monster Black Fly Season. Forests, shade, and proper equipment definitely can help here.

COMMUNITY

For those who match the Yooper aesthetic, you'll find a welcoming community with laid back people who value hard work and strive to be self-sufficient. If they themselves can't help, they always 'know someone who knows someone', and will gladly refer you to them.

Occasional town events will take place, such Flea Markets and garage sales where locals sell their goods, Copper Fest, and your typical American holidays (4th of July, Memorial Day).

You'll find the entire community ardently supports local vendors, and the vendors, local shops, and even restaurants support one another. Local shops will proudly sell locally made goods, restaurants will promote one another, and the local vendors who set up tents during events all know one another.

NIGHTLIFE

Nightlife might be the last thing you'd think of when it comes to Ontonagon. Unless of course you're referring to the coyotes, wolves, bears, giant moths, and other nocturnal creatures which come out at night.

Most of the restaurants and shops close before 9PM, with some on the weekends closing as early as 5PM. The Eagles Club is open later, and seems to be a popular hang out for later night gatherings. Most other pubs are going to require some driving to get to.

Being in the single most western point of the Eastern Time Zone, residents of Ontonagon have the unique privilege of being able to go east (towards Gogebic), and find themselves in the Central Timezone (an hour behind). So if you really need something and shops are closed, that's always an option.

DINING

While a very small community, you'll find Ontonagon has some serious hidden gems to choose to dine at. Any lovers of exotic or ethnic food may be disappointed in Ontonagon's lack of variety, but the locals aren't complaining. Most are from Finnish/Baltic/Nordic backgrounds, and their plain palletes reflect this.

Breakfast - Syl's is really the only place for breakfast in town, but it's not like anyone is complaining.

Not only do they have some of the best French Toast and other hot breakfast items, they have fresh baked goods every morning, which might be some of the best donuts and muffins I've ever tasted.

Syl's is pretty small, and the restaurants tends to fill up fast. Being a small town, there's only so much staff they can hire- but they seem to manage it pretty well. If you stop in before the church crowd shows up, it shouldn't be too long of a wait.

Lunch - Up North Cafe is my spot of choice for a burger. This plain little spot gives generous helpings, and they've seemed to figure out the perfect balance of bun-to-burger ratio.

Up North has some outdoor seating as well as indoor seating, but a lot of people like to call in an order and take it elsewhere. They're usually a bit quicker than Syl's to churn out orders, so if you find yourself impatient and needing hot food ASAP, Up North is a good choice.

If you don't feel like paying for someone else to make you a meal, there's quite a few locals and farms who sell meat, eggs, dairy, fish, veggies, and fruits roadside.

SHOPPING

As small town, Ontonagon doesn't boast any retail stores or large chains. In fact, the only two "big" stores are the supermarket, Pat's Foods, and the Ace Hardware in town. Other than those two, everything from the pharmacy to the banks are relatively local.

When going to town, it's not unusual to find Ace is more packed than the grocery store. Everyone here has a project, and if you don't want to wait on delivery or drive down to Ironwood, Ace is going to be your best bet for supplies.

Pat's Foods is also pretty well stocked, although the selection of fish is smaller than I'd like for a town on the shores of Superior. You can find most foods and ingredients at Pat's, aside from niche items or specific brands.

Most locals here have a routine for groceries: once a month, take the 50 minute drive up to Houghton or down to Ironwood's Walmart, stock up, and drive down back. Anything you forgot or need in the interim can usually be found at Pat's.

As for local stores, there are a handful of gift shops and antique stores along main street in town. They'll sell anything from unique rocks and candles, to immaculate carved wooden art pieces and taxidermied animals for your home. There's also a small selection of locally knit hats and gloves, although actual clothing is going to have to be a Walmart trip or Amazon order.

CONCLUSION

For the right person, Ontonagon is a dream.

For anyone who doesn't like snow half the year, mosquitoes, bugs, physical activity, hard work, or having very little external entertainment and excitement, this isn't the place for you.

If you're also looking to get special treatment or change the way of life/thinking for locals, don't bother moving here. They're happy as they are and don't want city people to bring their baggage with them. This place is great because it is different, not in spite of it. Read Less
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Compare Ontonagon, MI Livability

      vs

      F Amenities

      Are there many local amenities in Ontonagon? Well, there are not many amenities close to this location.

      Parks

      River Road RV Park & Campground
      Ontonagon Township Park

      Entertainment

      The Ontonagon Theater of Performing Arts
      Ontonagon County Historical Society Museum
      Ontonagon Lighthouse

      Food & Drink

      The Squeeze On Main
      Roxey's Lounge
      Sip and Snack

      F Commute

      Is public transit available in Ontonagon? Of all people who commute, 0.0% take public transportation in Ontonagon.
      Drive to Work
      72%

      5% lower than the US average

      Take Public Transit
      0%

      5% lower than the US average

      Walk to Work
      8%

      5% higher than the US average

      A+ Health & Safety

      Is Ontonagon a healthy and safe place to live? Yes, there are many hospitals, police and fire stations.

      Hospitals

      Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital

      Pharmacies

      Doctors