What are the schools like in Petoskey, MI?

Petoskey is served primarily by Public Schools of Petoskey. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

What is the median household income in Petoskey?

The median household income in Petoskey, MI is $69,784 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.2%.

What is the weather like in Petoskey, MI?

Petoskey has an average high temperature of 27.4°F in January and 75.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 34.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 123.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Petoskey, MI affordable or expensive?

Petoskey's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Petoskey is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $256,400 and the median rent is $894 per month.

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

Petoskey has a violent crime rate of 119.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 565.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Petoskey, MI a Good Place to Live?

Petoskey is a small town of 5,859 in Michigan, with a median household income of $69,784 and a 1.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Petoskey is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Petoskey 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: 96.6

Petoskey's overall cost of living index is 96.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Petoskey costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Petoskey, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$256,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$894	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$69,784	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Petoskey's violent crime rate is 119.9 per 100,000 residents — 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

119.9 /100k

Property Crime

565.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Petoskey is served primarily by Public Schools of Petoskey. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Petoskey, MI	National Avg
School District	Public Schools of Petoskey	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Petoskey sees average highs of 27.4°F in January and 75.2°F in July, with 34.2 inches of annual precipitation and 123.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Petoskey, MI
Average High — January	27.4°F
Average High — July	75.2°F
Annual Precipitation	34.2"
Annual Snowfall	123.6"

Demographics

Metric	Petoskey, MI	National Avg
Population	5,859	—
Median Age	41.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.6%	6.3%
Under 18	18.6%	22.2%
65 and over	19.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Bay View, MI 4 mi Harbor Springs, MI 5 mi Bay Shore, MI 5 mi Horton Bay, MI 7 mi Walloon Lake, MI 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Petoskey

Petoskey, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49770

Petoskey vs Other Cities

Petoskey, MI vs Bay View, MI Petoskey, MI vs Harbor Springs, MI Petoskey, MI vs Bay Shore, MI Petoskey, MI vs Horton Bay, MI Petoskey, MI vs Walloon Lake, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Petoskey, MI affordable or expensive?

Petoskey's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Petoskey roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $256,400 and median rent is $894/month.

What is the crime rate in Petoskey, MI?

Petoskey's violent crime rate is 119.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 565.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Petoskey?

Public schools in Petoskey are operated by Public Schools of Petoskey. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 50.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Petoskey, MI a good place to live?

Petoskey, MI has a population of 5,859, a median household income of $69,784, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Petoskey?

Petoskey averages 27.4°F in January and 75.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.2 inches with about 123.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Petoskey?

Petoskey, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49770.

What is the population of Petoskey?

The population of Petoskey, Michigan is 5,859 with a median age of 41.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Petoskey?

Key numbers for living in Petoskey: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $256,400, median household income $69,784, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Petoskey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.