What are the schools like in Hillsdale, MI?

Hillsdale is served primarily by Hillsdale Community Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.5:1.

What is the median household income in Hillsdale?

The median household income in Hillsdale, MI is $47,205 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.6%.

What is the weather like in Hillsdale, MI?

Hillsdale has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 44.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Hillsdale, MI affordable or expensive?

Hillsdale's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hillsdale is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $116,300 and the median rent is $765 per month.

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

Hillsdale has a violent crime rate of 288.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 638.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hillsdale, MI a Good Place to Live?

Hillsdale is a small town of 8,005 in Michigan, with a median household income of $47,205 and a 3.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Hillsdale stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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

All Hillsdale 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: 91.5

Hillsdale's overall cost of living index is 91.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hillsdale costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hillsdale, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$116,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$765	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$47,205	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hillsdale's violent crime rate is 288.0 per 100,000 residents — 24% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

288.0 /100k

Property Crime

638.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hillsdale is served primarily by Hillsdale Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hillsdale, MI	National Avg
School District	Hillsdale Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hillsdale sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July, with 39.5 inches of annual precipitation and 44.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hillsdale, MI
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	82.5°F
Annual Precipitation	39.5"
Annual Snowfall	44.1"

Demographics

Metric	Hillsdale, MI	National Avg
Population	8,005	—
Median Age	28.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	90.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	19.9%	22.2%
65 and over	14.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jonesville, MI 4 mi North Adams, MI 6 mi Allen, MI 7 mi Cambria, MI 8 mi Reading, MI 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Hillsdale

Hillsdale, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49242

Hillsdale vs Other Cities

Hillsdale, MI vs Jonesville, MI Hillsdale, MI vs North Adams, MI Hillsdale, MI vs Allen, MI Hillsdale, MI vs Cambria, MI Hillsdale, MI vs Reading, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hillsdale, MI affordable or expensive?

Hillsdale's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hillsdale roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $116,300 and median rent is $765/month.

What is the crime rate in Hillsdale, MI?

Hillsdale's violent crime rate is 288.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 638.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hillsdale?

Public schools in Hillsdale are operated by Hillsdale Community Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hillsdale, MI a good place to live?

Hillsdale, MI has a population of 8,005, a median household income of $47,205, and an unemployment rate of 3.6%. 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 Hillsdale?

Hillsdale averages 30.6°F in January and 82.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.5 inches with about 44.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hillsdale?

Hillsdale, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49242.

What is the population of Hillsdale?

The population of Hillsdale, Michigan is 8,005 with a median age of 28.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hillsdale?

Key numbers for living in Hillsdale: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $116,300, median household income $47,205, crime index 58 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hillsdale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.