What are the schools like in Wayland, MI?

Wayland is served primarily by Wayland Union Schools. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.7:1.

What is the median household income in Wayland?

The median household income in Wayland, MI is $63,500 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.0%.

What is the weather like in Wayland, MI?

Wayland has an average high temperature of 30.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 38.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 77.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Wayland, MI affordable or expensive?

Wayland's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Wayland is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $164,900 and the median rent is $989 per month.

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

Wayland has a violent crime rate of 248.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1221.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Wayland, MI a Good Place to Live?

Wayland is a small town of 4,411 in Michigan, with a median household income of $63,500 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Wayland stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Wayland is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Wayland 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: 95.3

Wayland's overall cost of living index is 95.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Wayland costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Wayland, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$164,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$989	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	67.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$63,500	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Wayland's violent crime rate is 248.8 per 100,000 residents — 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

248.8 /100k

Property Crime

1221.4 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Wayland is served primarily by Wayland Union Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Wayland, MI	National Avg
School District	Wayland Union Schools	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	20.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Wayland sees average highs of 30.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July, with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation and 77.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Wayland, MI
Average High — January	30.2°F
Average High — July	81.8°F
Annual Precipitation	38.5"
Annual Snowfall	77.6"

Demographics

Metric	Wayland, MI	National Avg
Population	4,411	—
Median Age	33.5	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	87.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	5.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.9%	18.9%
Asian	1.3%	6.3%
Under 18	24.3%	22.2%
65 and over	10.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dorr, MI 5 mi Hopkins, MI 7 mi Middleville, MI 9 mi Martin, MI 9 mi Byron Center, MI 10 mi

ZIP Codes in Wayland

Wayland, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49348

Wayland vs Other Cities

Wayland, MI vs Dorr, MI Wayland, MI vs Hopkins, MI Wayland, MI vs Middleville, MI Wayland, MI vs Martin, MI Wayland, MI vs Byron Center, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wayland, MI affordable or expensive?

Wayland's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Wayland roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $164,900 and median rent is $989/month.

What is the crime rate in Wayland, MI?

Wayland's violent crime rate is 248.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1221.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Wayland?

Public schools in Wayland are operated by Wayland Union Schools. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 20.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Wayland, MI a good place to live?

Wayland, MI has a population of 4,411, a median household income of $63,500, and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. 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 Wayland?

Wayland averages 30.2°F in January and 81.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches with about 77.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Wayland?

Wayland, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49348.

What is the population of Wayland?

The population of Wayland, Michigan is 4,411 with a median age of 33.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Wayland?

Key numbers for living in Wayland: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $164,900, median household income $63,500, crime index 63 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Wayland side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.