What are the schools like in Waverly, MI?

Waverly is served primarily by Waverly Community Schools. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.3:1.

What is the median household income in Waverly?

The median household income in Waverly, MI is $74,909 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.8%.

What is the weather like in Waverly, MI?

Waverly has an average high temperature of 30.6°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 50.2 inches.

Waverly, MI Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Waverly, MI affordable or expensive?

Waverly's cost of living index is 93, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waverly is 7% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $206,900 and the median rent is $1,083 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waverly, MI?

Waverly has a violent crime rate of 195.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 934.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waverly, MI a Good Place to Live?

Waverly is a small city of 23,723 in Michigan, with a median household income of $74,909 and a 5.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is 7% below the national average.

Strengths: Waverly stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Waverly is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waverly 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: 92.8

Waverly's overall cost of living index is 92.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waverly costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.

Metric	Waverly, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$206,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,083	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	54.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$74,909	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waverly's violent crime rate is 195.0 per 100,000 residents — 49% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

195.0 /100k

Property Crime

934.1 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Waverly is served primarily by Waverly Community Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waverly, MI	National Avg
School District	Waverly Community Schools	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	43.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waverly sees average highs of 30.6°F in January and 82.8°F in July, with 33.3 inches of annual precipitation and 50.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waverly, MI
Average High — January	30.6°F
Average High — July	82.8°F
Annual Precipitation	33.3"
Annual Snowfall	50.2"

Demographics

Metric	Waverly, MI	National Avg
Population	23,723	—
Median Age	42.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.0 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	68.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	14.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.3%	18.9%
Asian	7.2%	6.3%
Under 18	14.3%	22.2%
65 and over	21.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Edgemont Park, MI 2 mi Lansing, MI 4 mi Grand Ledge, MI 6 mi Dimondale, MI 6 mi Wacousta, MI 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Waverly

Waverly, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

48917

Waverly vs Other Cities

Waverly, MI vs Edgemont Park, MI Waverly, MI vs Lansing, MI Waverly, MI vs Grand Ledge, MI Waverly, MI vs Dimondale, MI Waverly, MI vs Wacousta, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waverly, MI affordable or expensive?

Waverly's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average. That makes Waverly roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $206,900 and median rent is $1,083/month.

What is the crime rate in Waverly, MI?

Waverly's violent crime rate is 195.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 934.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waverly?

Public schools in Waverly are operated by Waverly Community Schools. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. 43.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waverly, MI a good place to live?

Waverly, MI has a population of 23,723, a median household income of $74,909, and an unemployment rate of 5.8%. 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.

What is the weather like in Waverly?

Waverly averages 30.6°F in January and 82.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.3 inches with about 50.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waverly?

Waverly, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 48917.

What is the population of Waverly?

The population of Waverly, Michigan is 23,723 with a median age of 42.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waverly?

Key numbers for living in Waverly: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $206,900, median household income $74,909, crime index 49 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waverly side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.