City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Paw Paw Lake, MI

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

3,794
Residents
$65,360
Median income
$191,100
Median home
$1,016
Median rent (state)

Paw Paw Lake - the verdict

Nationally, Paw Paw Lake sits in the 43rd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

43rd
percentile, household income
40th
percentile, home value
21st
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: Paw Paw Lake, MI

Paw Paw Lake is a small town in Michigan, home to 3,794 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Paw Paw Lake households earn a median of $65,360 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 20.5%. Home values in Paw Paw Lake run a median of $191,100, and the median resident age is 40.2 years. Educational attainment runs 28.4% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 52.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,016 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 60.5 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

3,794 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$65,360 /yr

Poverty 20.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Paw Paw Lake compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 40% pricier than other cities
Median rent 21% 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 Paw Paw Lake'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.

43rdIncome percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Paw Paw Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$191,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 60% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Paw Paw Lake $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 - Paw Paw Lake, MI Paw Paw Lake, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Paw Paw Lake, 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 Paw Paw Lake, MI median $65,360/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%
Paw Paw Lake, 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 Paw Paw Lake, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 20.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.2%

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

Population
3,794
Median Income
$65,360
Median Home Value
$191,100
Median Age
40.2
Poverty Rate
20.5%
Labor force participation
52.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.4%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.7%
Carpool
11.2%
Public Transit
1.2%
Walk
2.4%
Work from Home
6.6%

Based on 1,443 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 Paw Paw Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,016/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Williamston
3,800 people
Portland
3,821 people
Plainwell
3,764 people
Vicksburg
3,824 people
Boyne City
3,829 people
Imlay City
3,706 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Paw Paw Lake's 3,794 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mission Hills, CA
3,794 people
Dwight, IL
3,794 people
India Hook, SC
3,794 people
Bishop, CA
3,793 people
Umatilla, FL
3,793 people
Harlem, GA
3,793 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Paw Paw Lake's $65,360 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hollywood, FL
$65,359 median income
Poulan, GA
$65,357 median income
Elliott, IA
$65,357 median income
Ellsworth, KS
$65,357 median income
Beaver Crossing, NE
$65,357 median income
Belleplain, NJ
$65,357 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Paw Paw Lake, 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 Paw Paw Lake, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.9% White 87.5% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 1.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.9% 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 Paw Paw Lake 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
Paw Paw Lake (this city) 3,794 $65,360
Williamston 3,800 $73,902
Portland 3,821 $65,116
Plainwell 3,764 $65,846
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Paw Paw Lake, MI?

What is the population of Paw Paw Lake, MI? +

3,794 people live in Paw Paw Lake, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Paw Paw Lake, MI? +

Median annual household income in Paw Paw Lake runs $65,360, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Paw Paw Lake? +

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

The median home value in Paw Paw Lake is $191,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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