What are the schools like in Escanaba, MI?

Escanaba is served primarily by Escanaba Area Public Schools. The district operates 3 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.7:1.

What is the median household income in Escanaba?

The median household income in Escanaba, MI is $38,457 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 7.2%.

What is the weather like in Escanaba, MI?

Escanaba has an average high temperature of 25.6°F in January and 76.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 28.8 inches and annual snowfall averages 46.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Escanaba, MI affordable or expensive?

Escanaba's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Escanaba is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $104,200 and the median rent is $615 per month.

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

Escanaba has a violent crime rate of 357.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1996.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Escanaba, MI a Good Place to Live?

Escanaba is a small city of 12,403 in Michigan, with a median household income of $38,457 and a 7.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% below the national average.

Strengths: Escanaba 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 Escanaba is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Escanaba 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: 89.2

Escanaba's overall cost of living index is 89.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Escanaba costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Escanaba, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$104,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$615	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	60.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$38,457	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Escanaba's violent crime rate is 357.1 per 100,000 residents — 6% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

357.1 /100k

Property Crime

1996.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

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

Metric	Escanaba, MI	National Avg
School District	Escanaba Area Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	19.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Escanaba sees average highs of 25.6°F in January and 76.6°F in July, with 28.8 inches of annual precipitation and 46.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Escanaba, MI
Average High — January	25.6°F
Average High — July	76.6°F
Annual Precipitation	28.8"
Annual Snowfall	46.9"

Demographics

Metric	Escanaba, MI	National Avg
Population	12,403	—
Median Age	42.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	7.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	10.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.6%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	20.7%	22.2%
65 and over	22.3%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Gladstone, MI 8 mi Rapid River, MI 14 mi Powers, MI 22 mi Rock, MI 23 mi Carney, MI 25 mi

ZIP Codes in Escanaba

Escanaba, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49829

Escanaba vs Other Cities

Escanaba, MI vs Gladstone, MI Escanaba, MI vs Rapid River, MI Escanaba, MI vs Powers, MI Escanaba, MI vs Rock, MI Escanaba, MI vs Carney, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Escanaba, MI affordable or expensive?

Escanaba's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Escanaba roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $104,200 and median rent is $615/month.

What is the crime rate in Escanaba, MI?

Escanaba's violent crime rate is 357.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1996.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Escanaba?

Public schools in Escanaba are operated by Escanaba Area Public Schools. The district has 3 elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1. 19.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Escanaba, MI a good place to live?

Escanaba, MI has a population of 12,403, a median household income of $38,457, and an unemployment rate of 7.2%. 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 Escanaba?

Escanaba averages 25.6°F in January and 76.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.8 inches with about 46.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Escanaba?

Escanaba, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49829.

What is the population of Escanaba?

The population of Escanaba, Michigan is 12,403 with a median age of 42.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Escanaba?

Key numbers for living in Escanaba: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $104,200, median household income $38,457, 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 Escanaba side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.