City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Brown City, MI

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

1,211
Residents
$60,357
Median income
$121,400
Median home
$1,411
Median rent (state)

Brown City - the verdict

Brown City ranks in the 36th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

36th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
55th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Brown City, MI

Michigan's Brown City is a small town, with 1,211 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Brown City brings in $60,357 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.8%. Typical homes in Brown City are valued around $121,400, and the median resident age is 41.8 years. About 12.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 49.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,411 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 66.4 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Moderate).

Population

1,211 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$60,357 /yr

Poverty 10.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Brown City compare to other US cities?

Brown City measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 36% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 55% pricier than other cities

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

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 Brown 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 Michigan, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

36thIncome percentile

36th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Brown City's home value compares nationally

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

$121,400 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% 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. Brown 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 - Brown City, MI Brown City, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Brown City, 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 Brown City, MI median $60,357/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%
Brown City, 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 Brown City, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.7%

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

Population
1,211
Median Income
$60,357
Median Home Value
$121,400
Median Age
41.8
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Labor force participation
49.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.0%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,270 residents1,280 residents1,290 residents1,300 residents1,310 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,299 residents 1,280 residents ▼ -1.5%
Brown City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
87.9%
Carpool
2.7%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
6.0%

Based on 481 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 Brown City sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,411/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
66.4 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Sand Lake
1,214 people
Weidman
1,217 people
Kent City
1,218 people
Luna Pier
1,204 people
North Branch
1,199 people
Grass Lake
1,235 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Brown City's 1,211 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Altoona, AL
1,211 people
Lakeview, OH
1,211 people
Skagway, AK
1,212 people
Jones Valley, CA
1,212 people
Orange Blossom, CA
1,210 people
Pioneer, CA
1,210 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Brown City's $60,357 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Grayson Valley, AL
$60,354 median income
Angels, CA
$60,353 median income
Pea Ridge, FL
$60,350 median income
London, OH
$60,364 median income
Red Bank, SC
$60,348 median income
Port St. Joe, FL
$60,347 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Brown City, 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 Brown City, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.7% 6.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 6.2% White 89.7% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.4% Two or more races 6.0% 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 Brown City 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
Brown City (this city) 1,211 $60,357
Sand Lake 1,214 $49,615
Weidman 1,217 $49,545
Kent City 1,218 $74,375
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Brown City, MI?

What is the population of Brown City, MI? +

1,211 people live in Brown City, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Brown City, MI? +

In Brown City, the typical household earns $60,357 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Brown City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Brown City; 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.

What is the median home value in Brown City, MI? +

Homes in Brown City carry a median value of $121,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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 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.