Median Income
$72,699
household / year
Median Home Value
$190,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,134
gross / month
Cost of Living
97
national avg = 100

Is Norton Shores, MI a Good Place to Live?

Norton Shores is a small city of 24,984 in Michigan, with a median household income of $72,699 and a 5.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

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

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

All Norton Shores 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: 97.1

Norton Shores's overall cost of living index is 97.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Norton Shores costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric Norton Shores, MI National Avg
Median Home Value $190,800 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,134 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 84.9% 65.9%
Median Household Income $72,699 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Norton Shores's violent crime rate is 192.0 per 100,000 residents — 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
192.0 /100k
Property Crime
1883.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Norton Shores is served primarily by Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Norton Shores, MI National Avg
School District Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System —
Elementary Schools 2 —
Middle Schools N/A —
High Schools 1 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.7:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 32.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 95.0% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Norton Shores 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.

MetricNorton Shores, MI
Average High — January32.5°F
Average High — July81.6°F
Annual Precipitation35.1"
Annual Snowfall87.2"

Demographics

MetricNorton Shores, MINational Avg
Population24,984—
Median Age40.238.9
Unemployment Rate5.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time20.4 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)89.9%59.3%
Black or African American3.6%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino1.2%18.9%
Asian0.9%6.3%
Under 1823.0%22.2%
65 and over22.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Muskegon Heights, MI 2 mi Roosevelt Park, MI 3 mi Muskegon, MI 4 mi Fruitport, MI 5 mi Ferrysburg, MI 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Norton Shores

Norton Shores, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

49441 49444

Norton Shores vs Other Cities

Norton Shores, MI vs Muskegon Heights, MI Norton Shores, MI vs Roosevelt Park, MI Norton Shores, MI vs Muskegon, MI Norton Shores, MI vs Fruitport, MI Norton Shores, MI vs Ferrysburg, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Norton Shores's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Norton Shores roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $190,800 and median rent is $1,134/month.
Norton Shores's violent crime rate is 192.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1883.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Norton Shores are operated by Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System. The district has 2 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 32.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Norton Shores, MI has a population of 24,984, a median household income of $72,699, and an unemployment rate of 5.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Norton Shores 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).
Norton Shores, MI is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 49441, 49444.
The population of Norton Shores, Michigan is 24,984 with a median age of 40.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Norton Shores: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $190,800, median household income $72,699, crime index 66 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Norton Shores side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.