What are the schools like in Fife Lake, MI?

Fife Lake is served primarily by Forest Area Community Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Fife Lake?

The median household income in Fife Lake, MI is $67,083 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.7%.

What is the weather like in Fife Lake, MI?

Fife Lake has an average high temperature of 25.3°F in January and 79.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 132.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Fife Lake, MI affordable or expensive?

Fife Lake's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Fife Lake is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $169,400 and the median rent is $1,031 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Fife Lake, MI?

Fife Lake has a violent crime rate of 193.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 450.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Fife Lake, MI a Good Place to Live?

Fife Lake is a small town of 338 in Michigan, with a median household income of $67,083 and a 2.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Fife Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Fife Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Fife Lake 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: 95.7

Fife Lake's overall cost of living index is 95.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Fife Lake costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Fife Lake, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$169,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,031	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	87.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$67,083	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Fife Lake's violent crime rate is 193.4 per 100,000 residents — 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

193.4 /100k

Property Crime

450.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Fife Lake is served primarily by Forest Area Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Fife Lake, MI	National Avg
School District	Forest Area Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Fife Lake sees average highs of 25.3°F in January and 79.0°F in July, with 35.3 inches of annual precipitation and 132.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Fife Lake, MI
Average High — January	25.3°F
Average High — July	79.0°F
Annual Precipitation	35.3"
Annual Snowfall	132.1"

Demographics

Metric	Fife Lake, MI	National Avg
Population	338	—
Median Age	49.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	36.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	12.4%	22.2%
65 and over	20.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

South Boardman, MI 5 mi Kingsley, MI 9 mi Manton, MI 12 mi Kalkaska, MI 13 mi Chums Corner, MI 17 mi

ZIP Codes in Fife Lake

Fife Lake, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49633

Fife Lake vs Other Cities

Fife Lake, MI vs South Boardman, MI Fife Lake, MI vs Kingsley, MI Fife Lake, MI vs Manton, MI Fife Lake, MI vs Kalkaska, MI Fife Lake, MI vs Chums Corner, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fife Lake, MI affordable or expensive?

Fife Lake's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Fife Lake roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $169,400 and median rent is $1,031/month.

What is the crime rate in Fife Lake, MI?

Fife Lake's violent crime rate is 193.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 450.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Fife Lake?

Public schools in Fife Lake are operated by Forest Area Community Schools. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 20.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Fife Lake, MI a good place to live?

Fife Lake, MI has a population of 338, a median household income of $67,083, and an unemployment rate of 2.7%. 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 Fife Lake?

Fife Lake averages 25.3°F in January and 79.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.3 inches with about 132.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Fife Lake?

Fife Lake, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49633.

What is the population of Fife Lake?

The population of Fife Lake, Michigan is 338 with a median age of 49.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Fife Lake?

Key numbers for living in Fife Lake: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $169,400, median household income $67,083, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fife Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.