What are the schools like in Melvindale, MI?

Melvindale is served primarily by Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 20.7:1.

What is the median household income in Melvindale?

The median household income in Melvindale, MI is $38,918 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.2%.

What is the weather like in Melvindale, MI?

Melvindale has an average high temperature of 32.0°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 35.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 30.8 inches.

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

Q: Is Melvindale, MI affordable or expensive?

Melvindale's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Melvindale is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $95,900 and the median rent is $1,111 per month.

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

Melvindale has a violent crime rate of 301.6 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1165.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Melvindale, MI a Good Place to Live?

Melvindale is a small city of 12,639 in Michigan, with a median household income of $38,918 and a 11.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Melvindale stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Melvindale is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Melvindale 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: 98.0

Melvindale's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Melvindale costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Melvindale, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$95,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,111	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$38,918	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Melvindale's violent crime rate is 301.6 per 100,000 residents — 21% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

301.6 /100k

Property Crime

1165.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Melvindale is served primarily by Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.7:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Melvindale, MI	National Avg
School District	Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	20.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	13.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	67.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Melvindale sees average highs of 32.0°F in January and 83.6°F in July, with 35.0 inches of annual precipitation and 30.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Melvindale, MI
Average High — January	32.0°F
Average High — July	83.6°F
Annual Precipitation	35.0"
Annual Snowfall	30.8"

Demographics

Metric	Melvindale, MI	National Avg
Population	12,639	—
Median Age	33.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	73.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	14.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	9.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	29.3%	22.2%
65 and over	10.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Allen Park, MI 2 mi Lincoln Park, MI 2 mi Dearborn, MI 3 mi Ecorse, MI 3 mi River Rouge, MI 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Melvindale

Melvindale, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48122

Melvindale vs Other Cities

Melvindale, MI vs Allen Park, MI Melvindale, MI vs Lincoln Park, MI Melvindale, MI vs Dearborn, MI Melvindale, MI vs Ecorse, MI Melvindale, MI vs River Rouge, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Melvindale, MI affordable or expensive?

Melvindale's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Melvindale roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $95,900 and median rent is $1,111/month.

What is the crime rate in Melvindale, MI?

Melvindale's violent crime rate is 301.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1165.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Melvindale?

Public schools in Melvindale are operated by Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20.7:1. 13.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Melvindale, MI a good place to live?

Melvindale, MI has a population of 12,639, a median household income of $38,918, and an unemployment rate of 11.2%. 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 Melvindale?

Melvindale averages 32.0°F in January and 83.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.0 inches with about 30.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Melvindale?

Melvindale, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48122.

What is the population of Melvindale?

The population of Melvindale, Michigan is 12,639 with a median age of 33.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Melvindale?

Key numbers for living in Melvindale: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $95,900, median household income $38,918, crime index 70 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Melvindale side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.