City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Muskegon, MI

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

37,203
Residents
$46,342
Median income
$121,800
Median home
$1,519
Median rent (state)

Muskegon - the verdict

Muskegon ranks in the 14th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

14th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
60th
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: Muskegon, MI

37,203 people live in Muskegon, Michigan - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Muskegon brings in $46,342 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 16.9%. Home values in Muskegon run a median of $121,800, and the median resident age is 36.0 years. Educational attainment runs 15.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 48.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 44 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Growing), up 5% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Michigan at 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,519 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Workers in Muskegon report an average commute of 19.9 minutes, with 80.3% driving alone and 5.0% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 82.9 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

37,203 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$46,342 /yr

Poverty 16.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Muskegon compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 14% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 60% 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

Each percentile compares Muskegon 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 Muskegon's strongest outlier among Michigan cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Muskegon ranks #34 - the 93rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Muskegon only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#586 of 718
18th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#34 of 727
93rd percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#458 of 721
36th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#124 of 727
83rd percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#453 of 727
37th 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.

14thIncome percentile

14th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Muskegon's home value compares nationally

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

$121,800 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. Muskegon $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 - Muskegon, MI Muskegon, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Muskegon, 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 Muskegon, MI median $46,342/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%
Muskegon, 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 Muskegon, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 15.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.3%

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

Population
37,203
Median Income
$46,342
Median Home Value
$121,800
Median Age
36.0
Poverty Rate
16.9%
Labor force participation
48.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
15.8%

Schools

Total Schools
45
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
37,100 residents37,150 residents37,200 residents37,250 residents37,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 37,210 residents 37,224 residents ▲ +0.0%
Muskegon's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Growing
Total Permits (2024)
44
housing units authorized
Single-Family
44
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 42
2020 43
2021 34
2022 47
2023 57
2024 44

Permit volume increased 5% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.9 minutes
Drive Alone
80.3%
Carpool
10.2%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
2.5%
Work from Home
5.0%
Other
1.7%

Based on 13,862 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 Muskegon sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,519/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
82.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Lincoln Park
39,511 people
Holland
34,266 people
Eastpointe
34,003 people
Bay City
32,445 people
Midland
42,461 people
Jackson
31,206 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Muskegon's 37,203 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cedar City, UT
37,202 people
Myrtle Beach, SC
37,214 people
Leavenworth, KS
37,176 people
Midlothian, TX
37,256 people
Copperas Cove, TX
37,149 people
Estero, FL
37,258 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Muskegon's $46,342 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

San Jose, AZ
$46,339 median income
Woodland, ME
$46,346 median income
Hollis, OK
$46,333 median income
Tecumseh, OK
$46,352 median income
Grantsville, MD
$46,354 median income
Lashmeet, WV
$46,329 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Muskegon, 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 Muskegon, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 55.2% 29.9% 11.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.1% White 55.2% Black or African American 29.9% Asian 0.7% American Indian 0.7% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 2.1% Two or more races 11.2% 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 Muskegon 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
Muskegon (this city) 37,203 $46,342
Lincoln Park 39,511 $57,183
Holland 34,266 $72,905
Eastpointe 34,003 $58,196
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Muskegon, MI?

What is the population of Muskegon, MI? +

The population of Muskegon, MI stands at 37,203 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Muskegon runs $46,342, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Muskegon? +

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

The median home value in Muskegon is $121,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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