Is Center Line, MI a Good Place to Live?
Center Line is a small town of 8,493 in Michigan, with a median household income of $52,067 and a 6.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.
Strengths: Center Line stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Center Line is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Center Line 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: 98.0Center Line's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Center Line costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Center Line, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $131,900 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $720 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $52,067 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AverageCenter Line's violent crime rate is 421.8 per 100,000 residents — 11% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Center Line is served primarily by Center Line Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Center Line, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Center Line Public Schools | — |
| Elementary Schools | 3 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 2 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 15.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 86.6% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Center Line sees average highs of 32.4°F in January and 83.5°F in July, with 29.9 inches of annual precipitation and 27.9 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Center Line, MI |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 32.4°F |
| Average High — July | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 27.9" |
Demographics
| Metric | Center Line, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,493 | — |
| Median Age | 41.2 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 21.7 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 57.5% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 30.9% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1.7% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 5.7% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 15.3% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Center Line
Center Line, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: