Leslie is a small town of 2,154 in Michigan, with a median household income of $68,920
and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Leslie stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Leslie is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Leslie 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: 92.8
Leslie's overall cost of living index is 92.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Leslie costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Leslie, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$121,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$890
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$68,920
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Leslie's violent crime rate is 210.9 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
210.9 /100k
Property Crime
421.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Leslie is served primarily by Leslie Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Leslie, MI
National Avg
School District
Leslie Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Leslie sees average highs of 30.5°F in January
and 82.3°F in July,
with 36.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 36.0 inches of snow per year.
Leslie's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Leslie roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $121,100 and median rent is $890/month.
Leslie's violent crime rate is 210.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 421.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Leslie are operated by Leslie Public Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.2:1. 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Leslie, MI has a population of 2,154, a median household income of $68,920, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%.
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.
Leslie averages 30.5°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.3 inches
with about 36.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Leslie, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49251.
The population of Leslie, Michigan is 2,154 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Leslie: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $121,100, median household income $68,920, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Leslie side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
