Vandalia is a small town of 389 in Michigan, with a median household income of $58,750
and a 4.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Vandalia stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Vandalia is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Vandalia 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: 91.4
Vandalia's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Vandalia costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Vandalia, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$58,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,106
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$58,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Vandalia's violent crime rate is 210.5 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
210.5 /100k
Property Crime
1232.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Vandalia, MI
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
6.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
72.7%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Vandalia sees average highs of 31.1°F in January
and 81.5°F in July,
with 41.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 41.2 inches of snow per year.
Vandalia's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Vandalia roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $58,600 and median rent is $1,106/month.
Vandalia's violent crime rate is 210.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1232.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Vandalia, MI has a population of 389, a median household income of $58,750, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%.
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.
Vandalia averages 31.1°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.7 inches
with about 41.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Vandalia, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49095.
The population of Vandalia, Michigan is 389 with a median age of 28.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Vandalia: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $58,600, median household income $58,750, crime index 57 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Vandalia side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
