What are the schools like in Elk Rapids, MI?

Elk Rapids is served primarily by Elk Rapids Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.9:1.

What is the median household income in Elk Rapids?

The median household income in Elk Rapids, MI is $77,396 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.5%.

What is the weather like in Elk Rapids, MI?

Elk Rapids has an average high temperature of 29.5°F in January and 79.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 114.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Elk Rapids, MI affordable or expensive?

Elk Rapids's cost of living index is 99, where 100 represents the national average. This means Elk Rapids is 1% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $334,900 and the median rent is $1,020 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Elk Rapids, MI?

Elk Rapids has a violent crime rate of 175.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 450.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Elk Rapids, MI a Good Place to Live?

Elk Rapids is a small town of 1,568 in Michigan, with a median household income of $77,396 and a 0.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 99 (US average = 100), which is 1% below the national average.

Strengths: Elk Rapids stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Elk Rapids 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: 99.0

Elk Rapids's overall cost of living index is 99.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Elk Rapids costs roughly 1% less than the average American city.

Metric	Elk Rapids, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$334,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,020	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,396	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Elk Rapids'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

Elk Rapids is served primarily by Elk Rapids Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Elk Rapids, MI	National Avg
School District	Elk Rapids Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	47.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Elk Rapids sees average highs of 29.5°F in January and 79.9°F in July, with 31.3 inches of annual precipitation and 114.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Elk Rapids, MI
Average High — January	29.5°F
Average High — July	79.9°F
Annual Precipitation	31.3"
Annual Snowfall	114.5"

Demographics

Metric	Elk Rapids, MI	National Avg
Population	1,568	—
Median Age	57.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	5.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.8%	6.3%
Under 18	16.5%	22.2%
65 and over	36.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Alden, MI 7 mi Rapid City, MI 7 mi Bellaire, MI 11 mi Suttons Bay, MI 13 mi Central Lake, MI 14 mi

ZIP Codes in Elk Rapids

Elk Rapids, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49629

Elk Rapids vs Other Cities

Elk Rapids, MI vs Alden, MI Elk Rapids, MI vs Rapid City, MI Elk Rapids, MI vs Bellaire, MI Elk Rapids, MI vs Suttons Bay, MI Elk Rapids, MI vs Central Lake, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elk Rapids, MI affordable or expensive?

Elk Rapids's cost of living index is 99, where 100 is the national average. That makes Elk Rapids roughly 1% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $334,900 and median rent is $1,020/month.

What is the crime rate in Elk Rapids, MI?

Elk Rapids'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.

What are the schools like in Elk Rapids?

Public schools in Elk Rapids are operated by Elk Rapids Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. 47.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Elk Rapids, MI a good place to live?

Elk Rapids, MI has a population of 1,568, a median household income of $77,396, and an unemployment rate of 0.5%. 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 Elk Rapids?

Elk Rapids averages 29.5°F in January and 79.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.3 inches with about 114.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Elk Rapids?

Elk Rapids, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49629.

What is the population of Elk Rapids?

The population of Elk Rapids, Michigan is 1,568 with a median age of 57.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Elk Rapids?

Key numbers for living in Elk Rapids: cost of living index 99 (100 = US average), median home $334,900, median household income $77,396, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Elk Rapids side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.