Shepherd is a small town of 1,415 in Michigan, with a median household income of $75,000
and a 1.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shepherd stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Shepherd is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shepherd 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: 93.3
Shepherd's overall cost of living index is 93.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shepherd costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shepherd, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$145,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$831
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
71.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$75,000
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Shepherd's violent crime rate is 231.9 per 100,000 residents
— 39% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
231.9 /100k
Property Crime
904.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shepherd is served primarily by Shepherd Public Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shepherd, MI
National Avg
School District
Shepherd Public Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shepherd sees average highs of 29.5°F in January
and 83.7°F in July,
with 35.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 39.3 inches of snow per year.
Shepherd's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shepherd roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $145,200 and median rent is $831/month.
Shepherd's violent crime rate is 231.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 904.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shepherd are operated by Shepherd Public Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.7:1. 27.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shepherd, MI has a population of 1,415, a median household income of $75,000, and an unemployment rate of 1.3%.
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.
Shepherd averages 29.5°F in January and 83.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 35.1 inches
with about 39.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shepherd, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48883.
The population of Shepherd, Michigan is 1,415 with a median age of 32.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shepherd: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $145,200, median household income $75,000, crime index 54 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shepherd side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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