City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Bad Axe, MI

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

3,010
Residents
$47,535
Median income
$106,700
Median home
$973
Median rent (state)

Bad Axe - the verdict

Bad Axe ranks in the 16th percentile for household income and the 39th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

16th
percentile, household income
12th
percentile, home value
12th
percentile, median rent
39th
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: Bad Axe, MI

Michigan's Bad Axe is a small town, with 3,010 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Bad Axe brings in $47,535 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 14.4%. Typical homes in Bad Axe are valued around $106,700, and the median resident age is 49.0 years. 20.0% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 48.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Bad Axe reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1721.8 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 46.4°F with 32.9 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Michigan scores 96.2 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $973 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Michigan's average monthly utility costs around $238 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 59.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

3,010 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$47,535 /yr

Poverty 14.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Bad Axe compare to other US cities?

Where Bad Axe sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 16% higher than other cities
Home value 12% pricier than other cities
Median rent 12% pricier than other cities
Safety 39% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Michigan, Bad Axe ranks #172 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bad Axe against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Bad Axe near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Bad Axe ranks #576 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bad Axe only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#567 of 718
21st percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#576 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#544 of 721
24th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#178 of 727
75th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#349 of 727
52nd percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

16thIncome percentile
39thSafety percentile

16th percentile nationally for median household income · 39th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Bad Axe's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Bad Axe'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 48 Avg. percentile National median
Bad Axe'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 Bad Axe's home value compares nationally

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

$106,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Bad Axe $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 - Bad Axe, MI Bad Axe, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bad Axe, MI-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 Bad Axe, MI median $47,535/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%
Bad Axe, MI'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 Bad Axe, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 14.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.5%

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

Population
3,010
Median Income
$47,535
Median Home Value
$106,700
Median Age
49.0
Poverty Rate
14.4%
Labor force participation
48.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1721.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
371.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1350.4
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
46.4°F
Annual Precipitation
32.9"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,900 residents2,950 residents3,000 residents3,050 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,031 residents 2,943 residents ▼ -2.9%
Bad Axe's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.6%
Carpool
8.2%
Public Transit
2.2%
Walk
5.4%
Work from Home
8.6%

Based on 1,223 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan 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 Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bad Axe sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$973/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
59.0 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Iron River
3,009 people
Whitehall
2,974 people
Corunna
3,054 people
Potterville
3,065 people
Fowlerville
2,950 people
Ferrysburg
2,949 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bad Axe's 3,010 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kelly Ridge, CA
3,010 people
Olney, TX
3,011 people
Ayer, MA
3,012 people
Dry Ridge, OH
3,008 people
David City, NE
3,013 people
Groveville, NJ
3,007 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bad Axe's $47,535 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Toledo, OH
$47,532 median income
Linden, TX
$47,542 median income
Pittston, PA
$47,525 median income
Oceana, WV
$47,548 median income
Rockdale, TX
$47,550 median income
Pinewood, FL
$47,551 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bad Axe, MI 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 Bad Axe, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.5% White 87.3% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 1.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.0% Two or more races 5.3% 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 Bad Axe compares to nearby Michigan cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Bad Axe (this city) 3,010 $47,535
Iron River 3,009 $48,750
Whitehall 2,974 $58,750
Corunna 3,054 $47,420
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bad Axe, MI?

What is the population of Bad Axe, MI? +

Bad Axe, MI has a population of 3,010 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bad Axe, MI? +

Bad Axe households earn a median of $47,535 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bad Axe? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bad Axe; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Bad Axe, MI safe? +

Bad Axe has a total crime rate of 1721.8 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Bad Axe, MI? +

A typical home in Bad Axe is worth $106,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Bad Axe? +

Bad Axe has an average annual temperature of 46.4°F, 32.9 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, 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

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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.