St. Charles is a small town of 2,020 in Michigan, with a median household income of $51,875
and a 4.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
St. Charles stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether St. Charles is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All St. Charles 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: 88.7
St. Charles's overall cost of living index is 88.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in St. Charles costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
St. Charles, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$99,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$590
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
74.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$51,875
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
St. Charles's violent crime rate is 463.2 per 100,000 residents
— 22% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
463.2 /100k
Property Crime
308.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
St. Charles is served primarily by St. Charles Community Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
St. Charles, MI
National Avg
School District
St. Charles Community Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
St. Charles sees average highs of 30.0°F in January
and 83.0°F in July,
with 34.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 40.7 inches of snow per year.
St. Charles's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes St. Charles roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $99,700 and median rent is $590/month.
St. Charles's violent crime rate is 463.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 308.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in St. Charles are operated by St. Charles Community Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.5:1. 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
St. Charles, MI has a population of 2,020, a median household income of $51,875, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%.
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.
St. Charles averages 30.0°F in January and 83.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 34.3 inches
with about 40.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
St. Charles, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48655.
The population of St. Charles, Michigan is 2,020 with a median age of 45.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in St. Charles: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $99,700, median household income $51,875, crime index 79 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare St. Charles side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
