What are the schools like in Howard City, MI?

Howard City is served primarily by Tri County Area Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.1:1.

What is the median household income in Howard City?

The median household income in Howard City, MI is $52,009 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.5%.

What is the weather like in Howard City, MI?

Howard City has an average high temperature of 31.2°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 36.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 63.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Howard City, MI affordable or expensive?

Howard City's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Howard City is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $119,300 and the median rent is $682 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Howard City, MI?

Howard City has a violent crime rate of 208.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 793.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Howard City, MI a Good Place to Live?

Howard City is a small town of 1,836 in Michigan, with a median household income of $52,009 and a 1.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

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

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

All Howard City 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: 95.2

Howard City's overall cost of living index is 95.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Howard City costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Howard City, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$119,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$682	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,009	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Howard City's violent crime rate is 208.2 per 100,000 residents — 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

208.2 /100k

Property Crime

793.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Howard City is served primarily by Tri County Area Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Howard City, MI	National Avg
School District	Tri County Area Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	18.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	9.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	87.9%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Howard City sees average highs of 31.2°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 36.7 inches of annual precipitation and 63.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Howard City, MI
Average High — January	31.2°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	36.7"
Annual Snowfall	63.8"

Demographics

Metric	Howard City, MI	National Avg
Population	1,836	—
Median Age	31.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	94.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	28.6%	22.2%
65 and over	11.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Pierson, MI 5 mi Morley, MI 7 mi Trufant, MI 8 mi Sand Lake, MI 8 mi Lakeview, MI 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Howard City

Howard City, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49329

Howard City vs Other Cities

Howard City, MI vs Pierson, MI Howard City, MI vs Morley, MI Howard City, MI vs Trufant, MI Howard City, MI vs Sand Lake, MI Howard City, MI vs Lakeview, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Howard City, MI affordable or expensive?

Howard City's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Howard City roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $119,300 and median rent is $682/month.

What is the crime rate in Howard City, MI?

Howard City's violent crime rate is 208.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 793.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Howard City?

Public schools in Howard City are operated by Tri County Area Schools. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18.1:1. 9.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Howard City, MI a good place to live?

Howard City, MI has a population of 1,836, a median household income of $52,009, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%. 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 Howard City?

Howard City averages 31.2°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.7 inches with about 63.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Howard City?

Howard City, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49329.

What is the population of Howard City?

The population of Howard City, Michigan is 1,836 with a median age of 31.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Howard City?

Key numbers for living in Howard City: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $119,300, median household income $52,009, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Howard City side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.