Central Lake is a small town of 887 in Michigan, with a median household income of $56,550
and a 3.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Central Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Central Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Central Lake 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: 94.3
Central Lake's overall cost of living index is 94.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Central Lake costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Central Lake, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$134,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$56,550
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Central Lake's violent crime rate is 175.8 per 100,000 residents
— 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
175.8 /100k
Property Crime
450.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Central Lake is served primarily by Central Lake Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Central Lake, MI
National Avg
School District
Central Lake Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Central Lake sees average highs of 30.4°F in January
and 82.6°F in July,
with 32.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 122.2 inches of snow per year.
Central Lake's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Central Lake roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $134,000 and median rent is $1,000/month.
Central Lake's violent crime rate is 175.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 450.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Central Lake are operated by Central Lake Public Schools.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.9:1. 22.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Central Lake, MI has a population of 887, a median household income of $56,550, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%.
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.
Central Lake averages 30.4°F in January and 82.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.8 inches
with about 122.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Central Lake, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49622.
The population of Central Lake, Michigan is 887 with a median age of 35.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Central Lake: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $134,000, median household income $56,550, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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