What are the schools like in Pontiac, MI?

Pontiac is served primarily by Pontiac City School District. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.0:1.

What is the median household income in Pontiac?

The median household income in Pontiac, MI is $40,307 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.5%.

What is the weather like in Pontiac, MI?

Pontiac has an average high temperature of 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 36.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Pontiac, MI affordable or expensive?

Pontiac's cost of living index is 98, where 100 represents the national average. This means Pontiac is 2% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $100,100 and the median rent is $947 per month.

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

Pontiac has a violent crime rate of 984.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1641.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Pontiac, MI a Good Place to Live?

Pontiac is a mid-sized city of 61,965 in Michigan, with a median household income of $40,307 and a 9.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 98 (US average = 100), which is 2% below the national average.

Strengths: Pontiac stands out for below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Pontiac is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Pontiac 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: 98.0

Pontiac's overall cost of living index is 98.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Pontiac costs roughly 2% less than the average American city.

Metric	Pontiac, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$100,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$947	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	42.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$40,307	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Pontiac's violent crime rate is 984.7 per 100,000 residents — 159% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

984.7 /100k

Property Crime

1641.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Pontiac is served primarily by Pontiac City School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1 .

Metric	Pontiac, MI	National Avg
School District	Pontiac City School District	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	16.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Pontiac sees average highs of 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July, with 33.9 inches of annual precipitation and 36.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Pontiac, MI
Average High — January	31.3°F
Average High — July	82.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.9"
Annual Snowfall	36.0"

Demographics

Metric	Pontiac, MI	National Avg
Population	61,965	—
Median Age	33.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	21.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	30.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	49.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	12.2%	18.9%
Asian	4.0%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	12.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Auburn Hills, MI 3 mi Sylvan Lake, MI 3 mi Lake Angelus, MI 4 mi Keego Harbor, MI 4 mi Bloomfield Hills, MI 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Pontiac

Pontiac, MI is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

48340 48341 48342 48302

Pontiac vs Other Cities

Pontiac, MI vs Auburn Hills, MI Pontiac, MI vs Sylvan Lake, MI Pontiac, MI vs Lake Angelus, MI Pontiac, MI vs Keego Harbor, MI Pontiac, MI vs Bloomfield Hills, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pontiac, MI affordable or expensive?

Pontiac's cost of living index is 98, where 100 is the national average. That makes Pontiac roughly 2% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $100,100 and median rent is $947/month.

What is the crime rate in Pontiac, MI?

Pontiac's violent crime rate is 984.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1641.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Pontiac?

Public schools in Pontiac are operated by Pontiac City School District. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Pontiac, MI a good place to live?

Pontiac, MI has a population of 61,965, a median household income of $40,307, and an unemployment rate of 9.5%. 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 Pontiac?

Pontiac averages 31.3°F in January and 82.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.9 inches with about 36.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Pontiac?

Pontiac, MI is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 48340, 48341, 48342, 48302.

What is the population of Pontiac?

The population of Pontiac, Michigan is 61,965 with a median age of 33.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Pontiac?

Key numbers for living in Pontiac: cost of living index 98 (100 = US average), median home $100,100, median household income $40,307, crime index 187 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Pontiac side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.