What are the schools like in Decatur, MI?

Decatur is served primarily by Decatur Public Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.7:1.

What is the median household income in Decatur?

The median household income in Decatur, MI is $55,521 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.9%.

What is the weather like in Decatur, MI?

Decatur has an average high temperature of 31.1°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 41.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 86.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Decatur, MI affordable or expensive?

Decatur's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Decatur is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $115,300 and the median rent is $714 per month.

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

Decatur has a violent crime rate of 303.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2424.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Decatur, MI a Good Place to Live?

Decatur is a small town of 1,886 in Michigan, with a median household income of $55,521 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Decatur stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

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

All Decatur 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: 90.9

Decatur's overall cost of living index is 90.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Decatur costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Decatur, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$115,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$714	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,521	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Decatur's violent crime rate is 303.0 per 100,000 residents — 20% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

303.0 /100k

Property Crime

2424.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Decatur is served primarily by Decatur Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Decatur, MI	National Avg
School District	Decatur Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	14.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Decatur sees average highs of 31.1°F in January and 81.5°F in July, with 41.7 inches of annual precipitation and 86.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Decatur, MI
Average High — January	31.1°F
Average High — July	81.5°F
Annual Precipitation	41.7"
Annual Snowfall	86.6"

Demographics

Metric	Decatur, MI	National Avg
Population	1,886	—
Median Age	34.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.4%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	28.1%	22.2%
65 and over	15.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lawton, MI 8 mi Paw Paw, MI 8 mi Lawrence, MI 9 mi Marcellus, MI 10 mi Dowagiac, MI 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Decatur

Decatur, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49045

Decatur vs Other Cities

Decatur, MI vs Lawton, MI Decatur, MI vs Paw Paw, MI Decatur, MI vs Lawrence, MI Decatur, MI vs Marcellus, MI Decatur, MI vs Dowagiac, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Decatur, MI affordable or expensive?

Decatur's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Decatur roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $115,300 and median rent is $714/month.

What is the crime rate in Decatur, MI?

Decatur's violent crime rate is 303.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2424.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Decatur?

Public schools in Decatur are operated by Decatur Public Schools. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1. 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Decatur, MI a good place to live?

Decatur, MI has a population of 1,886, a median household income of $55,521, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%. 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 Decatur?

Decatur averages 31.1°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.7 inches with about 86.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Decatur?

Decatur, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49045.

What is the population of Decatur?

The population of Decatur, Michigan is 1,886 with a median age of 34.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Decatur?

Key numbers for living in Decatur: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $115,300, median household income $55,521, crime index 94 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Decatur side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.