Ontonagon is a small town of 1,290 in Michigan, with a median household income of $41,734
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Ontonagon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Ontonagon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Ontonagon 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: 86.7
Ontonagon's overall cost of living index is 86.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Ontonagon costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Ontonagon, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$82,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$522
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
73.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$41,734
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Ontonagon's violent crime rate is 17.5 per 100,000 residents
— 95% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
17.5 /100k
Property Crime
174.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Ontonagon is served primarily by Ontonagon Area School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Ontonagon, MI
National Avg
School District
Ontonagon Area School District
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Ontonagon sees average highs of 25.1°F in January
and 79.2°F in July,
with 32.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 177.7 inches of snow per year.
Ontonagon's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Ontonagon roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $82,000 and median rent is $522/month.
Ontonagon's violent crime rate is 17.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 174.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Ontonagon are operated by Ontonagon Area School District.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 14.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Ontonagon, MI has a population of 1,290, a median household income of $41,734, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.
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.
Ontonagon averages 25.1°F in January and 79.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 32.9 inches
with about 177.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Ontonagon, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49953.
The population of Ontonagon, Michigan is 1,290 with a median age of 62.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Ontonagon: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $82,000, median household income $41,734, crime index 6 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ontonagon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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