Schools
Most of 49233 is served by the Columbia School District (Norman Miller Elementary K-5 is right in town; upper grades are in Brooklyn), with edges in Hanover-Horton or Addison Community Schools.
Lenawee County, Michigan
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Buying a home in Cement City
Tucked into Michigan's Irish Hills, Cement City is a 424-person village (2020 Census) named for the Peninsular Portland Cement plant that opened on the shore of Goose Lake around 1900 and closed in 1961. The cement industry vanished long ago; today the 49233 economy leans on agriculture, small Main Street businesses, and lake-driven seasonal tourism, with Michigan International Speedway in nearby Brooklyn pulling in regional dollars. Because the ZIP straddles Lenawee, Hillsdale and Jackson county lines and wraps several private lakes, it draws both year-round families near Norman Miller Elementary and weekend buyers chasing waterfront. Most residents commute out, Jackson is about 25 minutes, Adrian roughly 30, rather than into metro Detroit. For financing, that lakefront-versus-village split is the whole story, and it shapes how we structure every loan here. Local guide.
By the numbers
Cement City housing and mortgage snapshot
Values move. Treat these as orientation and let us pull current figures for the address you are considering.
$285,000
Typical home value, from the market research on this page
+52%
Typical rise in taxable value the year after a home sells in Woodstock Township, 2026 Uncapping Study
1.14%
Effective property tax rate, as a share of value
1
Residential ZIP codes
What financing looks like in Cement City
To comfortably carry the ~$285,000 ZIP median, plan on roughly $75,000-$85,000 in household income (assuming 10-20% down, prevailing rates, and standard taxes and insurance); an in-village home near $220,000 works closer to $60,000-$65,000. Lenawee County's effective property tax rate runs about 1.14% of value, a median bill near $2,184, and Michigan's Proposal A caps taxable-value growth, claim your Principal Residence Exemption to skip the 18-mill school operating levy that investors pay. First-time and moderate-income buyers should explore MSHDA down-payment assistance. Nearly all of 49233 sits well under conforming limits, so jumbo financing only enters the picture on the highest-end lakefront estates on Lake Columbia.
Nearly every Cement City purchase fits well under the 2026 conforming limit of $832,750, so loan size is rarely the constraint.
The market
The Cement City housing market
Typical 49233 homes run around $285,000, but that single number hides a huge spread. The incorporated village proper sits closer to $220,000 (the 2023 ACS pegged village home value at $219,400), while lakefront homes on Vineyard Lake or private Lake Columbia routinely clear $400,000 to $700,000. Year-over-year movement is genuinely volatile: with so few sales, Redfin recently showed median sale price down sharply in one month even as price per square foot rose, so treat the trend as roughly flat with wide swings. Homes generally go pending in about 40 to 55 days and sell near 2% under list. Lakefront listings move fastest, often pending around 40 days, while rural acreage lingers longer. Demand is driven by waterfront scarcity and second-home buyers.
Where to look
Cement City neighborhoods
Vineyard Lake
(~$250,000-$600,000+): Popular Irish Hills lake community straddling the Lenawee/Hillsdale line; mix of year-round homes and seasonal cottages, with lakefront commanding a premium.
Lake Columbia
(~$275,000-$700,000+): An 840-acre private man-made lake in Columbia Township with a property owners association, 16 private parks and 14 named shores, fully developed waterfront and the ZIP's priciest tier.
Goose Lake area
(~$200,000-$450,000): A scenic, mostly undeveloped 200-acre lake at the gateway to the Irish Hills near the site of the old cement plant; quieter, more rustic properties.
Village of Cement City (downtown core)
(~$150,000-$250,000): Older, smaller in-town homes near Norman Miller Elementary, the most affordable, non-lakefront option.
Round Lake / Somerset-area lakes
(~$225,000-$550,000): Surrounding Irish Hills lake subdivisions popular with second-home and weekend buyers.
Schools and commute
Commute
Commute to downtown Detroit: about 76-77 miles, or 1 hour 35 to 1 hour 45 minutes via US-12/I-94, not a practical daily drive, so plan around Jackson and Adrian instead.
Michigan property taxes
Cement City property taxes after you buy
The year after a Michigan home sells, its taxable value resets to half of the assessor's market value, so the seller's tax bill is not your tax bill.
In Woodstock Township, which assesses Cement City, our 2026 Uncapping Study found taxable value typically rises about 52% the year after a sale: roughly $1,390 more in first-year tax on a $300,000 home at the township's homestead millage. We build your payment on that post-sale number.
In Samantha's words
County alone does not tell you much. We would never say you are in a particular county so here are your taxes. It does not work like that. We need the actual property.
Local resources
Check Cement City records yourself
The official offices behind the tax and school details on this page.
- Woodstock Township Assessor, for parcel records and current taxable value
- Columbia School District, for district boundaries and enrollment
- Lenawee County Equalization, for county property tax records
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Cement City mortgage questions
If yours is not here, ask it on the call. There are no dumb questions.
What is the typical home price in Cement City, MI 49233?
Typical homes in the 49233 ZIP run around $285,000, though there’s a wide spread. Smaller in-village homes start near $150,000-$250,000, while lakefront properties on Vineyard Lake or Lake Columbia frequently sell for $400,000 to $700,000 or more. The incorporated village median sits closer to $220,000.
How much income do I need to buy a home in Cement City?
To comfortably afford a ~$285,000 median-priced home, plan on roughly $75,000-$85,000 in household income, assuming about 10-20% down, prevailing rates, and standard tax and insurance costs. A more affordable in-village home around $220,000 could work on roughly $60,000-$65,000.
What are property taxes like in the Cement City / Lenawee County area?
Lenawee County’s median effective property tax rate is about 1.14% of market value, with a median annual bill near $2,184. Michigan’s Proposal A caps how fast your taxable value can rise, and your primary residence is exempt from the 18-mill school operating tax, so owner-occupants pay less than investors. Exact millage depends on your township and the Columbia School District levy.
Which school district serves Cement City?
Most of Cement City is served by the Columbia School District. Norman Miller Elementary (K-5) is right in town, while the upper elementary and Columbia Central Jr/Sr High are in nearby Brooklyn. Some edges of the 49233 ZIP fall into Hanover-Horton or Addison Community Schools.
How long do homes stay on the market in 49233?
Homes in 49233 generally go pending in about 40-55 days and tend to sell around 2% under list price. Desirable lakefront listings move faster, often pending closer to 40 days, while rural acreage can take longer. Sales volume is low, so timelines vary listing to listing.
What makes Cement City and the Irish Hills a good place to buy?
Cement City is a quiet gateway to Michigan’s Irish Hills, surrounded by lakes like Goose Lake, Vineyard Lake and private Lake Columbia, plus Michigan International Speedway nearby in Brooklyn. Buyers get rural, lake-country living and seasonal-cottage options at prices below metro Michigan, with Jackson (~25 min) and Adrian (~30 min) for jobs and shopping.
Talk with a local mortgage expert
Tell Samantha what you are trying to do in Cement City and she will tell you what actually matters for your situation, including whether the timing is right.
- 1
Tell us what you are trying to do
Not what product you want. What you are actually trying to accomplish.
- 2
We look at your situation
A licensed Align loan officer works out what matters most for you specifically.
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You leave with a plan
Your options, the tradeoffs, and your next step. No obligation to go further.
Align Lending LLC, NMLS #2041154. Samantha Shelton, NMLS 1647301. Equal Housing Opportunity. Licensed in Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Louisiana and Texas. Figures on this page are market research for orientation, not a quote. This page is for educational purposes only. It is not a credit decision, a preapproval, a commitment to lend, or an offer of credit.
