Median Income
$41,512
household / year
Median Home Value
$162,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$846
gross / month
Cost of Living
94
national avg = 100

Is Mount Pleasant, MI a Good Place to Live?

Mount Pleasant is a small city of 21,826 in Michigan, with a median household income of $41,512 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

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

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

All Mount Pleasant 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: 93.9

Mount Pleasant's overall cost of living index is 93.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Mount Pleasant costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric Mount Pleasant, MI National Avg
Median Home Value $162,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $846 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 36.0% 65.9%
Median Household Income $41,512 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Mount Pleasant's violent crime rate is 427.7 per 100,000 residents — 13% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
427.7 /100k
Property Crime
1025.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Mount Pleasant is served primarily by Mt. Pleasant City School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Mount Pleasant, MI National Avg
School District Mt. Pleasant City School District
Elementary Schools 5
Middle Schools 1
High Schools 4
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.5:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 44.2% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 93.5% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Mount Pleasant sees average highs of 29.5°F in January and 83.7°F in July, with 35.5 inches of annual precipitation and 39.3 inches of snow per year.

MetricMount Pleasant, MI
Average High — January29.5°F
Average High — July83.7°F
Annual Precipitation35.5"
Annual Snowfall39.3"

Demographics

MetricMount Pleasant, MINational Avg
Population21,826
Median Age22.938.9
Unemployment Rate9.5%3.7%
Avg Commute Time14.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)82.9%59.3%
Black or African American5.0%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino3.4%18.9%
Asian2.8%6.3%
Under 1811.8%22.2%
65 and over8.3%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

Mount Pleasant vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Pleasant's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Mount Pleasant roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $162,000 and median rent is $846/month.
Mount Pleasant's violent crime rate is 427.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1025.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mount Pleasant are operated by Mt. Pleasant City School District. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 44.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mount Pleasant, MI has a population of 21,826, a median household income of $41,512, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%. 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.
Mount Pleasant averages 29.5°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.5 inches with about 39.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mount Pleasant, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 48858, 48859.
The population of Mount Pleasant, Michigan is 21,826 with a median age of 22.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mount Pleasant: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $162,000, median household income $41,512, crime index 87 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mount Pleasant side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.