What are the schools like in Paw Paw, MI?

Paw Paw is served primarily by Paw Paw Public School District. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.6:1.

What is the median household income in Paw Paw?

The median household income in Paw Paw, MI is $46,516 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Paw Paw, MI?

Paw Paw has an average high temperature of 32.0°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 109.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Paw Paw, MI affordable or expensive?

Paw Paw's cost of living index is 92, where 100 represents the national average. This means Paw Paw is 8% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $119,900 and the median rent is $837 per month.

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

Paw Paw has a violent crime rate of 470.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4414.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Paw Paw, MI a Good Place to Live?

Paw Paw is a small town of 3,318 in Michigan, with a median household income of $46,516 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is 8% below the national average.

Strengths: Paw Paw 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 Paw Paw is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Paw Paw 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: 92.4

Paw Paw's overall cost of living index is 92.4, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Paw Paw costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.

Metric	Paw Paw, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$119,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$837	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	52.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,516	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Paw Paw's violent crime rate is 470.9 per 100,000 residents — 24% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

470.9 /100k

Property Crime

4414.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Paw Paw is served primarily by Paw Paw Public School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Paw Paw, MI	National Avg
School District	Paw Paw Public School District	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	12.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Paw Paw sees average highs of 32.0°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 39.2 inches of annual precipitation and 109.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Paw Paw, MI
Average High — January	32.0°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	39.2"
Annual Snowfall	109.0"

Demographics

Metric	Paw Paw, MI	National Avg
Population	3,318	—
Median Age	35.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	3.3%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	26.9%	22.2%
65 and over	15.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lawton, MI 4 mi Mattawan, MI 5 mi Lawrence, MI 8 mi Decatur, MI 8 mi Gobles, MI 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Paw Paw

Paw Paw, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49079

Paw Paw vs Other Cities

Paw Paw, MI vs Lawton, MI Paw Paw, MI vs Mattawan, MI Paw Paw, MI vs Lawrence, MI Paw Paw, MI vs Decatur, MI Paw Paw, MI vs Gobles, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paw Paw, MI affordable or expensive?

Paw Paw's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average. That makes Paw Paw roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $119,900 and median rent is $837/month.

What is the crime rate in Paw Paw, MI?

Paw Paw's violent crime rate is 470.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4414.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Paw Paw?

Public schools in Paw Paw are operated by Paw Paw Public School District. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 12.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Paw Paw, MI a good place to live?

Paw Paw, MI has a population of 3,318, a median household income of $46,516, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. 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.

What is the weather like in Paw Paw?

Paw Paw averages 32.0°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.2 inches with about 109.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Paw Paw?

Paw Paw, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49079.

What is the population of Paw Paw?

The population of Paw Paw, Michigan is 3,318 with a median age of 35.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Paw Paw?

Key numbers for living in Paw Paw: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $119,900, median household income $46,516, crime index 158 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Paw Paw side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.