City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Michigan City, IN

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Michigan City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

31,894
Residents
$52,979
Median income
$129,000
Median home
$1,152
Median rent (state)

Michigan City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Michigan City places in the 24th percentile for household income and the 24th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

24th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
32nd
percentile, median rent
24th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Michigan City, IN

Indiana's Michigan City is a small city, with 31,894 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Michigan City brings in $52,979 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 15.2%. Michigan City's housing stock carries a median value of $129,000, and the median resident age is 37.8 years. 18.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 50.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 27 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 59% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2406.3 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Indiana at 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,152 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $235 across Indiana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 78.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

31,894 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$52,979 /yr

Poverty 15.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Michigan City compare to other US cities?

Here's how Michigan City stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% pricier than other cities
Safety 24% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Indiana alone, Michigan City ranks #89 of 109 Indiana cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Michigan City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Indiana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

24thIncome percentile
24thSafety percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income · 24th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Michigan City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Michigan City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 41 Avg. percentile National median
Michigan City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Michigan City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$129,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Michigan City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Michigan City, IN Michigan City, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Michigan City, IN-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Michigan City, IN median $52,979/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Michigan City, IN's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Michigan City, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 15.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
31,894
Median Income
$52,979
Median Home Value
$129,000
Median Age
37.8
Poverty Rate
15.2%
Labor force participation
50.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2406.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
291.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2114.6
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
11
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
31,000 residents31,500 residents32,000 residents32,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 32,013 residents 31,338 residents ▼ -2.1%
Michigan City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
27
housing units authorized
Single-Family
27
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.8
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 17
2020 28
2021 36
2022 28
2023 25
2024 27

Permit volume increased 59% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.3%
Carpool
8.2%
Public Transit
2.1%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
8.0%
Other
1.2%

Based on 12,823 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Indiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Indiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Michigan City sits in

Cost of Living Index
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,152/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
78.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Zionsville
31,442 people
Brownsburg
30,310 people
Granger
30,279 people
Crown Point
34,042 people
Hobart
29,646 people
Schererville
29,627 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Michigan City's 31,894 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oceanside, NY
31,907 people
Elizabethtown, KY
31,870 people
Marrero, LA
31,866 people
Erie, CO
31,927 people
Milford Mill, MD
31,939 people
Pullman, WA
31,939 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Michigan City's $52,979 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Elfers, FL
$52,979 median income
Sequim, WA
$52,977 median income
Polo, IL
$52,976 median income
Follansbee, WV
$52,974 median income
Avenal, CA
$52,986 median income
Trenton, SC
$52,986 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Michigan City, IN Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Michigan City, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 63.5% 25.4% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.8% White 63.5% Black or African American 25.4% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 2.6% Two or more races 7.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Michigan City compares to nearby Indiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Michigan City (this city) 31,894 $52,979
Zionsville 31,442 $159,126
Brownsburg 30,310 $105,435
Granger 30,279 $117,348
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Michigan City, IN?

What is the population of Michigan City, IN? +

The population of Michigan City, IN stands at 31,894 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Michigan City, IN? +

Median annual household income in Michigan City runs $52,979, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Michigan City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Michigan City; the closest available measure is the Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

Is Michigan City, IN safe? +

Michigan City has a total crime rate of 2406.3 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Michigan City, IN? +

The median home value in Michigan City is $129,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.