City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Howell, MI

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

10,074
Residents
$57,122
Median income
$240,700
Median home
$1,457
Median rent (state)

Howell - the verdict

Nationally, Howell sits in the 31st percentile for household income and the 74th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

31st
percentile, household income
54th
percentile, home value
57th
percentile, median rent
74th
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: Howell, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 10,074 residents in Howell, a small town within Michigan. The typical household in Howell brings in $57,122 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.5%. Howell's housing stock carries a median value of $240,700, and the median resident age is 38.6 years. Educational attainment runs 27.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 5 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 91% from five years earlier. Howell reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 751.2 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,457 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 73.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

10,074 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$57,122 /yr

Poverty 4.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Howell compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 31% higher than other cities
Home value 54% pricier than other cities
Median rent 57% pricier than other cities
Safety 74% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Michigan and the picture shifts: Howell ranks #76 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Howell 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 is Howell's strongest outlier among Michigan cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Howell ranks #54 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Howell only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#406 of 718
43rd percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#54 of 727
92nd percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#144 of 721
80th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#495 of 727
31st percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#218 of 727
70th 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.

31stIncome percentile
74thSafety percentile

31st percentile nationally for median household income · 74th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Howell's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Howell'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 50 Avg. percentile National median
Howell'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 Howell's home value compares nationally

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

$240,700 46th percentile more affordable than 46% 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%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Howell $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 - Howell, MI Howell, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Howell, 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 Howell, MI median $57,122/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%
Howell, 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 Howell, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.0%

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

Population
10,074
Median Income
$57,122
Median Home Value
$240,700
Median Age
38.6
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Labor force participation
65.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
751.2
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
110.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
641.0
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
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
9,800 residents9,900 residents10,000 residents10,100 residents10,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 10,069 residents 9,896 residents ▼ -1.7%
Howell's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
5
housing units authorized
Single-Family
5
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 57
2020 27
2021 12
2022 8
2023 5
2024 5

Permit volume decreased 91% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.4%
Carpool
8.9%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
1.9%
Work from Home
6.9%

Based on 5,600 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 Howell sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,457/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
73.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Alpena
10,178 people
Grosse Pointe Farms
9,957 people
Marysville
9,942 people
Muskegon Heights
9,902 people
Comstock Park
10,306 people
Cadillac
10,404 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Howell's 10,074 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cairo, GA
10,067 people
Airmont, NY
10,082 people
East Rockaway, NY
10,064 people
Burtonsville, MD
10,063 people
Hillsdale, NJ
10,086 people
East Whittier, CA
10,061 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Howell's $57,122 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Claremore, OK
$57,120 median income
Pacific, MO
$57,119 median income
Clayton, NY
$57,125 median income
Moody, TX
$57,125 median income
Cameron, TX
$57,126 median income
Belmont, PA
$57,132 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Howell, 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 Howell, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.3% White 90.8% Black or African American 1.1% Asian 0.8% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 4.0% 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 Howell 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
Howell (this city) 10,074 $57,122
Alpena 10,178 $47,604
Grosse Pointe Farms 9,957 $160,589
Marysville 9,942 $69,661
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Howell, MI?

What is the population of Howell, MI? +

The population of Howell, MI stands at 10,074 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Howell, MI? +

In Howell, the typical household earns $57,122 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Howell? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Howell; 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 Howell, MI safe? +

Howell has a total crime rate of 751.2 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 Howell, MI? +

Howell's median home value sits at $240,700, 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

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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.