Muskegon skyline and lake · bigmikesndtech / CC BY 2.0Muskegon Michigan harbor entrance · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown / Public domainVanDyk Mortgage Convention Center 01 · Farragutful / CC BY-SA 4.0Michigan Theater · rossograph / CC BY-SA 4.0
Muskegon is a small city of 38,286 in Michigan, with a median household income of $40,900
and a 10.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Muskegon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Muskegon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Muskegon 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: 91.6
Muskegon's overall cost of living index is 91.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Muskegon costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Muskegon, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$99,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$855
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,900
$74,755
Crime & Safety
High Crime
Muskegon's violent crime rate is 850.7 per 100,000 residents
— 124% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
850.7 /100k
Property Crime
2677.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Muskegon is served primarily by Orchard View Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Muskegon, MI
National Avg
School District
Orchard View Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Muskegon sees average highs of 32.5°F in January
and 81.6°F in July,
with 35.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 87.2 inches of snow per year.
Muskegon's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Muskegon roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $99,600 and median rent is $855/month.
Muskegon's violent crime rate is 850.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2677.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Muskegon are operated by Orchard View Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 14.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Muskegon, MI has a population of 38,286, a median household income of $40,900, and an unemployment rate of 10.4%.
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.
Muskegon averages 32.5°F in January and 81.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.1 inches
with about 87.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Muskegon, MI is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 49442, 49440, 49443.
The population of Muskegon, Michigan is 38,286 with a median age of 36.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Muskegon: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $99,600, median household income $40,900, crime index 185 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Muskegon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
