Rapid River is a small town of 305 in Michigan, with a median household income of $38,854
and a 4.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is
16% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rapid River stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rapid River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rapid River 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: 84.3
Rapid River's overall cost of living index is 84.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rapid River costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rapid River, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$110,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$323
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$38,854
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Rapid River's violent crime rate is 139.7 per 100,000 residents
— 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
139.7 /100k
Property Crime
866.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rapid River is served primarily by Rapid River Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rapid River, MI
National Avg
School District
Rapid River Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rapid River sees average highs of 24.8°F in January
and 76.7°F in July,
with 31.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 42.6 inches of snow per year.
Rapid River's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rapid River roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $110,000 and median rent is $323/month.
Rapid River's violent crime rate is 139.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 866.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rapid River are operated by Rapid River Public Schools.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.1:1. 9.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rapid River, MI has a population of 305, a median household income of $38,854, 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.
Rapid River averages 24.8°F in January and 76.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.3 inches
with about 42.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rapid River, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49878.
The population of Rapid River, Michigan is 305 with a median age of 45.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rapid River: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $110,000, median household income $38,854, crime index 39 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rapid River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
