Buckley is a small town of 874 in Michigan, with a median household income of $64,931
and a 6.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is
5% below the national average.
Strengths:
Buckley stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Buckley is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Buckley 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: 94.9
Buckley's overall cost of living index is 94.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Buckley costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.
Metric
Buckley, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$158,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$973
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
81.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$64,931
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Buckley's violent crime rate is 148.7 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
148.7 /100k
Property Crime
808.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Buckley is served primarily by Buckley Community Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Buckley, MI
National Avg
School District
Buckley Community Schools
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Buckley sees average highs of 25.3°F in January
and 79.0°F in July,
with 34.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 101.0 inches of snow per year.
Buckley's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Buckley roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $158,000 and median rent is $973/month.
Buckley's violent crime rate is 148.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 808.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Buckley are operated by Buckley Community Schools.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 17.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Buckley, MI has a population of 874, a median household income of $64,931, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Buckley averages 25.3°F in January and 79.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.6 inches
with about 101.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Buckley, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49620.
The population of Buckley, Michigan is 874 with a median age of 31.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Buckley: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $158,000, median household income $64,931, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Buckley side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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