Dollar Bay is a small town of 1,184 in Michigan, with a median household income of $60,294
and a 2.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Dollar Bay stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Dollar Bay is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Dollar Bay 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: 93.5
Dollar Bay's overall cost of living index is 93.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Dollar Bay costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Dollar Bay, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$176,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$756
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,294
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Dollar Bay's violent crime rate is 95.3 per 100,000 residents
— 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
95.3 /100k
Property Crime
395.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Dollar Bay is served primarily by Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Dollar Bay, MI
National Avg
School District
Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Dollar Bay sees average highs of 22.2°F in January
and 75.4°F in July,
with 31.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 207.8 inches of snow per year.
Dollar Bay's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Dollar Bay roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $176,900 and median rent is $756/month.
Dollar Bay's violent crime rate is 95.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 395.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Dollar Bay are operated by Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Dollar Bay, MI has a population of 1,184, a median household income of $60,294, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%.
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.
Dollar Bay averages 22.2°F in January and 75.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.6 inches
with about 207.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Dollar Bay, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49922.
The population of Dollar Bay, Michigan is 1,184 with a median age of 31.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Dollar Bay: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $176,900, median household income $60,294, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dollar Bay side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
