Is Hastings, MI a Good Place to Live?
Hastings is a small town of 7,504 in Michigan, with a median household income of $54,118 and a 6.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.
Strengths: Hastings 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 Hastings is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hastings 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: 92.2Hastings's overall cost of living index is 92.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hastings costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
| Metric | Hastings, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $146,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $725 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.3% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $54,118 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AverageHastings's violent crime rate is 386.2 per 100,000 residents — 2% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hastings is served primarily by Hastings Area School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | Hastings, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | Hastings Area School District | — |
| Elementary Schools | 4 | — |
| Middle Schools | 1 | — |
| High Schools | 1 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 16.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.6% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 93.1% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
Hastings sees average highs of 30.5°F in January and 82.1°F in July, with 39.6 inches of annual precipitation and 68.0 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | Hastings, MI |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 30.5°F |
| Average High — July | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 68.0" |
Demographics
| Metric | Hastings, MI | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,504 | — |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 23.2 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 97.7% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.1% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.8% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.5% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 21.8% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in Hastings
Hastings, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: