Watervliet is a small town of 1,883 in Michigan, with a median household income of $54,013
and a 5.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Watervliet 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 Watervliet is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Watervliet 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: 92.0
Watervliet's overall cost of living index is 92.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Watervliet costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Watervliet, MI
National Avg
Median Home Value
$108,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$855
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
67.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,013
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Watervliet's violent crime rate is 547.1 per 100,000 residents
— 44% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
547.1 /100k
Property Crime
607.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Watervliet is served primarily by Watervliet School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Watervliet, MI
National Avg
School District
Watervliet School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
8.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Watervliet sees average highs of 33.2°F in January
and 83.1°F in July,
with 38.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 77.7 inches of snow per year.
Watervliet's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Watervliet roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $108,200 and median rent is $855/month.
Watervliet's violent crime rate is 547.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 607.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Watervliet are operated by Watervliet School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. 8.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Watervliet, MI has a population of 1,883, a median household income of $54,013, and an unemployment rate of 5.0%.
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.
Watervliet averages 33.2°F in January and 83.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.2 inches
with about 77.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Watervliet, Michigan is 1,883 with a median age of 30.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Watervliet: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $108,200, median household income $54,013, crime index 98 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Watervliet side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
