What are the schools like in Buena Vista, MI?

School district data for Buena Vista is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Buena Vista?

The median household income in Buena Vista, MI is $39,373 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 13.9%.

What is the weather like in Buena Vista, MI?

Buena Vista has an average high temperature of 30.0°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 40.7 inches.

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

Q: Is Buena Vista, MI affordable or expensive?

Buena Vista's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Buena Vista is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $46,600 and the median rent is $835 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Buena Vista, MI?

Buena Vista has a violent crime rate of 569.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 679.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Buena Vista, MI a Good Place to Live?

Buena Vista is a small town of 6,013 in Michigan, with a median household income of $39,373 and a 13.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Buena Vista stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

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

All Buena Vista 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: 87.7

Buena Vista's overall cost of living index is 87.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Buena Vista costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Buena Vista, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$46,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$835	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$39,373	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Buena Vista's violent crime rate is 569.4 per 100,000 residents — 50% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

569.4 /100k

Property Crime

679.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Metric	Buena Vista, MI	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	7.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	80.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Buena Vista sees average highs of 30.0°F in January and 83.0°F in July, with 34.0 inches of annual precipitation and 40.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Buena Vista, MI
Average High — January	30.0°F
Average High — July	83.0°F
Annual Precipitation	34.0"
Annual Snowfall	40.7"

Demographics

Metric	Buena Vista, MI	National Avg
Population	6,013	—
Median Age	43.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	13.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	16.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	74.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	22.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Saginaw, MI 2 mi Bridgeport, MI 3 mi Robin Glen-Indiantown, MI 4 mi Zilwaukee, MI 5 mi Shields, MI 9 mi

Buena Vista vs Other Cities

Buena Vista, MI vs Saginaw, MI Buena Vista, MI vs Bridgeport, MI Buena Vista, MI vs Robin Glen-Indiantown, MI Buena Vista, MI vs Zilwaukee, MI Buena Vista, MI vs Shields, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buena Vista, MI affordable or expensive?

Buena Vista's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Buena Vista roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $46,600 and median rent is $835/month.

What is the crime rate in Buena Vista, MI?

Buena Vista's violent crime rate is 569.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 679.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Buena Vista?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Buena Vista, MI a good place to live?

Buena Vista, MI has a population of 6,013, a median household income of $39,373, and an unemployment rate of 13.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Buena Vista?

Buena Vista averages 30.0°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.0 inches with about 40.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Buena Vista?

The population of Buena Vista, Michigan is 6,013 with a median age of 43.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Buena Vista?

Key numbers for living in Buena Vista: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $46,600, median household income $39,373, crime index 103 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Buena Vista side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.