Median Income
$54,118
household / year
Median Home Value
$146,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$725
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100

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: 92.2

Hastings'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 Average

Hastings's violent crime rate is 386.2 per 100,000 residents — 2% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
386.2 /100k
Property Crime
1198.6 /100k

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.

MetricHastings, MI
Average High — January30.5°F
Average High — July82.1°F
Annual Precipitation39.6"
Annual Snowfall68.0"

Demographics

MetricHastings, MINational Avg
Population7,504—
Median Age38.138.9
Unemployment Rate6.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time23.2 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)97.7%59.3%
Black or African American0.1%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.8%18.9%
Asian0.5%6.3%
Under 1819.1%22.2%
65 and over21.8%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Hastings

Hastings, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Hastings vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Hastings's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hastings roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $146,400 and median rent is $725/month.
Hastings's violent crime rate is 386.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1198.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hastings are operated by Hastings Area School District. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.4:1. 23.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hastings, MI has a population of 7,504, a median household income of $54,118, and an unemployment rate of 6.5%. 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.
Hastings averages 30.5°F in January and 82.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.6 inches with about 68.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hastings, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49058.
The population of Hastings, Michigan is 7,504 with a median age of 38.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hastings: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $146,400, median household income $54,118, crime index 84 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hastings side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.