City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Onaway, MI

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

701
Residents
$40,159
Median income
$59,100
Median home
$1,054
Median rent (state)

Onaway - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Onaway lands in the 8th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

8th
percentile, household income
1st
percentile, home value
25th
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: Onaway, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 701 residents in Onaway, a small town within Michigan. Median household income here is $40,159 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 21.3%. Home values in Onaway run a median of $59,100, and the median resident age is 51.8 years. About 9.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 42.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 44.4°F with 32.0 inches of precipitation per year and 86.9 inches of snowfall.

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 $1,054 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 59.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

701 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$40,159 /yr

Poverty 21.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Onaway compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 1% pricier than other cities
Median rent 25% 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 Onaway against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Onaway near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 721 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Onaway ranks #705 - the 2nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Onaway only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#659 of 718
8th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#448 of 727
38th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#705 of 721
2nd percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#63 of 727
91st percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#629 of 727
13th 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.

8thIncome percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Onaway's home value compares nationally

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

$59,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 99% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Onaway $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 - Onaway, MI Onaway, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Onaway, 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 Onaway, MI median $40,159/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%
Onaway, 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 Onaway, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 21.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 42.3%

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

Population
701
Median Income
$40,159
Median Home Value
$59,100
Median Age
51.8
Poverty Rate
21.3%
Labor force participation
42.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.4°F
Annual Precipitation
32.0"
Annual Snowfall
86.9"

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
890 residents900 residents910 residents920 residents930 residents 202020212022202320242025 899 residents 907 residents ▲ +0.9%
Onaway's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.0%
Carpool
15.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.1%
Work from Home
2.3%
Other
0.8%

Based on 259 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 Onaway sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,054/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
59.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Ruby
705 people
Britton
695 people
Pittsford
711 people
Hartland
722 people
Presque Isle Harbor
722 people
Maple Rapids
724 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Onaway's 701 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Etna, CA
701 people
Humphrey, NE
701 people
Fieldsboro, NJ
701 people
Peña Blanca, NM
701 people
Underwood, ND
701 people
Christiansburg, OH
701 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Onaway's $40,159 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Taft, FL
$40,161 median income
Cherry Valley, AR
$40,156 median income
Boston, GA
$40,156 median income
Magnolia, NC
$40,156 median income
Westville, OK
$40,156 median income
Gassaway, WV
$40,156 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Onaway, 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 Onaway, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.0% 6.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.1% White 91.0% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 1.3% American Indian 0.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.1% Two or more races 6.6% 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 Onaway 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
Onaway (this city) 701 $40,159
Ruby 705 $66,910
Britton 695 $78,125
Pittsford 711 N/A
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Onaway, MI?

What is the population of Onaway, MI? +

Onaway, MI has a population of 701 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Onaway runs $40,159, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Onaway? +

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

The median home value in Onaway is $59,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Onaway? +

The average annual temperature in Onaway runs 44.4°F, 32.0 inches of precipitation, and 86.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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