What are the schools like in Clawson, MI?

Clawson is served primarily by Clawson Public Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.9:1.

What is the median household income in Clawson?

The median household income in Clawson, MI is $82,713 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.

What is the weather like in Clawson, MI?

Clawson has an average high temperature of 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Clawson, MI affordable or expensive?

Clawson's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Clawson is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $237,000 and the median rent is $1,129 per month.

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

Clawson has a violent crime rate of 197.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 557.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Clawson, MI a Good Place to Live?

Clawson is a small city of 11,388 in Michigan, with a median household income of $82,713 and a 4.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Clawson stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Clawson is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Clawson 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: 98.0

Clawson's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Clawson costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Clawson, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$237,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,129	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$82,713	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Clawson's violent crime rate is 197.9 per 100,000 residents — 48% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

197.9 /100k

Property Crime

557.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Clawson is served primarily by Clawson Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Clawson, MI	National Avg
School District	Clawson Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Clawson sees average highs of 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 33.9 inches of annual precipitation and 36.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Clawson, MI
Average High — January	31.3°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.9"
Annual Snowfall	36.0"

Demographics

Metric	Clawson, MI	National Avg
Population	11,388	—
Median Age	41.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	14.5%	22.2%
65 and over	19.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Royal Oak, MI 2 mi Madison Heights, MI 3 mi Berkley, MI 3 mi Troy, MI 3 mi Birmingham, MI 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Clawson

Clawson, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48017

Clawson vs Other Cities

Clawson, MI vs Royal Oak, MI Clawson, MI vs Madison Heights, MI Clawson, MI vs Berkley, MI Clawson, MI vs Troy, MI Clawson, MI vs Birmingham, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clawson, MI affordable or expensive?

Clawson's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Clawson roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $237,000 and median rent is $1,129/month.

What is the crime rate in Clawson, MI?

Clawson's violent crime rate is 197.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 557.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Clawson?

Public schools in Clawson are operated by Clawson Public Schools. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 43.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Clawson, MI a good place to live?

Clawson, MI has a population of 11,388, a median household income of $82,713, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. 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 Clawson?

Clawson averages 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.9 inches with about 36.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Clawson?

Clawson, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48017.

What is the population of Clawson?

The population of Clawson, Michigan is 11,388 with a median age of 41.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Clawson?

Key numbers for living in Clawson: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $237,000, median household income $82,713, crime index 42 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Clawson side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.