Median Income
$78,546
household / year
Median Home Value
$416,500
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,472
gross / month
Cost of Living
98
national avg = 100

Is Ann Arbor, MI a Good Place to Live?

Ann Arbor is a mid-sized city of 122,216 in Michigan, with a median household income of $78,546 and a 3.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Ann Arbor stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Ann Arbor is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ann Arbor city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 98.0

Ann Arbor's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ann Arbor costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric Ann Arbor, MI National Avg
Median Home Value $416,500 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,472 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 45.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $78,546 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Ann Arbor's violent crime rate is 302.5 per 100,000 residents — 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
302.5 /100k
Property Crime
1715.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ann Arbor is served primarily by Ann Arbor Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Ann Arbor, MI National Avg
School District Ann Arbor Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 21 —
Middle Schools 5 —
High Schools 6 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.9:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 77.5% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 97.8% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ann Arbor sees average highs of 31.7°F in January and 84.0°F in July, with 35.9 inches of annual precipitation and 59.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricAnn Arbor, MI
Average High — January31.7°F
Average High — July84.0°F
Annual Precipitation35.9"
Annual Snowfall59.3"

Demographics

MetricAnn Arbor, MINational Avg
Population122,216—
Median Age27.438.9
Unemployment Rate3.7%3.7%
Avg Commute Time19.6 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)69.9%59.3%
Black or African American6.6%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.1%18.9%
Asian16.1%6.3%
Under 1812.2%22.2%
65 and over12.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

Ann Arbor vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ann Arbor roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $416,500 and median rent is $1,472/month.
Ann Arbor's violent crime rate is 302.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1715.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ann Arbor are operated by Ann Arbor Public Schools. The district has 21 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 77.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ann Arbor, MI has a population of 122,216, a median household income of $78,546, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Ann Arbor averages 31.7°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.9 inches with about 59.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ann Arbor, MI is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 48103, 48105, 48104, 48108, 48109.
The population of Ann Arbor, Michigan is 122,216 with a median age of 27.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ann Arbor: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $416,500, median household income $78,546, crime index 80 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ann Arbor side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.