What are the schools like in Gladstone, MI?

Gladstone is served primarily by Gladstone Area Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.6:1.

What is the median household income in Gladstone?

The median household income in Gladstone, MI is $59,133 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

What is the weather like in Gladstone, MI?

Gladstone has an average high temperature of 24.8°F in January and 76.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Gladstone, MI affordable or expensive?

Gladstone's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gladstone is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $110,400 and the median rent is $820 per month.

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

Gladstone has a violent crime rate of 38.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 477.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gladstone, MI a Good Place to Live?

Gladstone is a small town of 5,231 in Michigan, with a median household income of $59,133 and a 3.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

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

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

All Gladstone 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: 91.8

Gladstone's overall cost of living index is 91.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gladstone costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Gladstone, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$110,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$820	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$59,133	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Gladstone's violent crime rate is 38.2 per 100,000 residents — 90% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

38.2 /100k

Property Crime

477.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Gladstone is served primarily by Gladstone Area Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gladstone, MI	National Avg
School District	Gladstone Area Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gladstone sees average highs of 24.8°F in January and 76.7°F in July, with 33.2 inches of annual precipitation and 42.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gladstone, MI
Average High — January	24.8°F
Average High — July	76.7°F
Annual Precipitation	33.2"
Annual Snowfall	42.6"

Demographics

Metric	Gladstone, MI	National Avg
Population	5,231	—
Median Age	40.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.3%	22.2%
65 and over	18.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Rapid River, MI 6 mi Escanaba, MI 8 mi Rock, MI 16 mi Garden, MI 23 mi Powers, MI 27 mi

ZIP Codes in Gladstone

Gladstone, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49837

Gladstone vs Other Cities

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gladstone, MI affordable or expensive?

Gladstone's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gladstone roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $110,400 and median rent is $820/month.

What is the crime rate in Gladstone, MI?

Gladstone's violent crime rate is 38.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 477.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gladstone?

Public schools in Gladstone are operated by Gladstone Area Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gladstone, MI a good place to live?

Gladstone, MI has a population of 5,231, a median household income of $59,133, and an unemployment rate of 3.8%. 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 Gladstone?

Gladstone averages 24.8°F in January and 76.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.2 inches with about 42.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Gladstone?

Gladstone, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49837.

What is the population of Gladstone?

The population of Gladstone, Michigan is 5,231 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gladstone?

Key numbers for living in Gladstone: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $110,400, median household income $59,133, crime index 15 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gladstone side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.