What are the schools like in Marlette, MI?

Marlette is served primarily by Marlette Community Schools. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.9:1.

What is the median household income in Marlette?

The median household income in Marlette, MI is $35,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.3%.

What is the weather like in Marlette, MI?

Marlette has an average high temperature of 28.4°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 42.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Marlette, MI affordable or expensive?

Marlette's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marlette is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $104,600 and the median rent is $781 per month.

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

Marlette has a violent crime rate of 378.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 863.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marlette, MI a Good Place to Live?

Marlette is a small town of 1,797 in Michigan, with a median household income of $35,000 and a 10.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Marlette 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 Marlette is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Marlette 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: 91.1

Marlette's overall cost of living index is 91.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marlette costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Marlette, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$104,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$781	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$35,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Marlette's violent crime rate is 378.0 per 100,000 residents — 1% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

378.0 /100k

Property Crime

863.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Marlette is served primarily by Marlette Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marlette, MI	National Avg
School District	Marlette Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	10.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marlette sees average highs of 28.4°F in January and 80.1°F in July, with 33.0 inches of annual precipitation and 42.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marlette, MI
Average High — January	28.4°F
Average High — July	80.1°F
Annual Precipitation	33.0"
Annual Snowfall	42.5"

Demographics

Metric	Marlette, MI	National Avg
Population	1,797	—
Median Age	38.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.1%	18.9%
Asian	0.7%	6.3%
Under 18	22.4%	22.2%
65 and over	17.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Clifford, MI 5 mi Kingston, MI 8 mi North Branch, MI 9 mi Brown City, MI 9 mi Snover, MI 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Marlette

Marlette, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48453

Marlette vs Other Cities

Marlette, MI vs Clifford, MI Marlette, MI vs Kingston, MI Marlette, MI vs North Branch, MI Marlette, MI vs Brown City, MI Marlette, MI vs Snover, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marlette, MI affordable or expensive?

Marlette's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Marlette roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $104,600 and median rent is $781/month.

What is the crime rate in Marlette, MI?

Marlette's violent crime rate is 378.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 863.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Marlette?

Public schools in Marlette are operated by Marlette Community Schools. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. 10.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marlette, MI a good place to live?

Marlette, MI has a population of 1,797, a median household income of $35,000, and an unemployment rate of 10.3%. 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 Marlette?

Marlette averages 28.4°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.0 inches with about 42.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marlette?

Marlette, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48453.

What is the population of Marlette?

The population of Marlette, Michigan is 1,797 with a median age of 38.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Marlette?

Key numbers for living in Marlette: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $104,600, median household income $35,000, crime index 76 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marlette side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.