Below Average CostSafer than AverageColdwater Community Schools
Coldwater Downtown Historic District 2 · F. D. Richards / CC BY-SA 2.0Coldwater, MI location · Notorious4life (talk) (Uploads) / CC0WaterworksColdwaterMI · Notjake13 / Public domain
Coldwater is a small city of 13,704 in Michigan, with a median household income of $48,531
and a 3.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Coldwater stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Coldwater is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Coldwater 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: 92.7
Coldwater's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Coldwater costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Coldwater, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$111,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$912
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
60.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,531
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Coldwater's violent crime rate is 238.5 per 100,000 residents
— 37% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
238.5 /100k
Property Crime
1342.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Coldwater is served primarily by Coldwater Community Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.5:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Coldwater, MI
National Avg
School District
Coldwater Community Schools
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
20.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Coldwater sees average highs of 30.9°F in January
and 81.9°F in July,
with 39.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 42.7 inches of snow per year.
Coldwater's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Coldwater roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $111,900 and median rent is $912/month.
Coldwater's violent crime rate is 238.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1342.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Coldwater are operated by Coldwater Community Schools.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.5:1. 12.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Coldwater, MI has a population of 13,704, a median household income of $48,531, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%.
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.
Coldwater averages 30.9°F in January and 81.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.1 inches
with about 42.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Coldwater, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49036.
The population of Coldwater, Michigan is 13,704 with a median age of 40.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Coldwater: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $111,900, median household income $48,531, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Coldwater side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
