What are the schools like in Belding, MI?

Belding is served primarily by Belding Area School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.6:1.

What is the median household income in Belding?

The median household income in Belding, MI is $52,083 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.0%.

What is the weather like in Belding, MI?

Belding has an average high temperature of 31.2°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 72.9 inches.

Belding, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Belding, MI affordable or expensive?

Belding's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Belding is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $131,400 and the median rent is $824 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Belding, MI?

Belding has a violent crime rate of 351.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 601.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Belding, MI a Good Place to Live?

Belding is a small town of 5,942 in Michigan, with a median household income of $52,083 and a 8.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Belding stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Belding is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Belding 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: 95.2

Belding's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Belding costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Belding, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$131,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$824	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	64.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,083	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Belding's violent crime rate is 351.1 per 100,000 residents — 8% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

351.1 /100k

Property Crime

601.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Belding is served primarily by Belding Area School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Belding, MI	National Avg
School District	Belding Area School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Belding sees average highs of 31.2°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 36.6 inches of annual precipitation and 72.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Belding, MI
Average High — January	31.2°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	36.6"
Annual Snowfall	72.9"

Demographics

Metric	Belding, MI	National Avg
Population	5,942	—
Median Age	36.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.5%	6.3%
Under 18	23.2%	22.2%
65 and over	15.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Greenville, MI 6 mi Sheridan, MI 11 mi Ionia, MI 12 mi Saranac, MI 12 mi Palo, MI 12 mi

ZIP Codes in Belding

Belding, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48809

Belding vs Other Cities

Belding, MI vs Greenville, MI Belding, MI vs Sheridan, MI Belding, MI vs Ionia, MI Belding, MI vs Saranac, MI Belding, MI vs Palo, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Belding, MI affordable or expensive?

Belding's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Belding roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $131,400 and median rent is $824/month.

What is the crime rate in Belding, MI?

Belding's violent crime rate is 351.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 601.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Belding?

Public schools in Belding are operated by Belding Area School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.6:1. 13.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Belding, MI a good place to live?

Belding, MI has a population of 5,942, a median household income of $52,083, and an unemployment rate of 8.0%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Belding?

Belding averages 31.2°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.6 inches with about 72.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Belding?

Belding, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48809.

What is the population of Belding?

The population of Belding, Michigan is 5,942 with a median age of 36.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Belding?

Key numbers for living in Belding: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $131,400, median household income $52,083, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Belding side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.