City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Paw Paw, MI

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

3,277
Residents
$38,989
Median income
$133,600
Median home
$993
Median rent (state)

Paw Paw - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Paw Paw lands in the 7th percentile for household income and the 4th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

7th
percentile, household income
22nd
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
4th
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: Paw Paw, MI

Michigan's Paw Paw is a small town, with 3,277 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $38,989 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 13.6%. Typical homes in Paw Paw are valued around $133,600, and the median resident age is 35.4 years. Educational attainment runs 10.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 50.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 1 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). Paw Paw's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 4885.3 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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 $993 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 47.7 out of 100 (Low).

Population

3,277 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$38,989 /yr

Poverty 13.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Paw Paw compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 22% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities
Safety 4% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Michigan, Paw Paw ranks #248 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Paw Paw against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Paw Paw toward the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Paw Paw ranks #586 - the 19th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Paw Paw only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#675 of 718
6th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#545 of 727
24th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#411 of 721
43rd percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#197 of 727
73rd percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#586 of 727
19th 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.

7thIncome percentile
4thSafety percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income · 4th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Paw Paw's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Paw Paw'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 30 Avg. percentile National median
Paw Paw'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 Paw Paw's home value compares nationally

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

$133,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 78% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Paw Paw $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, MI Paw Paw, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Paw Paw, 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, MI median $38,989/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, 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, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 10.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 13.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 50.6%

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

Population
3,277
Median Income
$38,989
Median Home Value
$133,600
Median Age
35.4
Poverty Rate
13.6%
Labor force participation
50.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
10.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
4885.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
470.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
4414.4
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
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
3,360 residents3,380 residents3,400 residents3,420 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,368 residents 3,386 residents ▲ +0.5%
Paw Paw's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 11
2021 26
2022 6
2023 12
2024 1

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.2%
Carpool
3.9%
Public Transit
3.0%
Walk
6.8%
Work from Home
8.1%

Based on 1,266 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 sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$993/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
47.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Blissfield
3,236 people
Clare
3,341 people
Essexville
3,344 people
Rockwood
3,189 people
Level Park-Oak Park
3,367 people
Mount Morris
3,130 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Paw Paw's 3,277 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Southpointe, PA
3,277 people
Thiensville, WI
3,277 people
West DeLand, FL
3,278 people
Vassar College, NY
3,276 people
Mannford, OK
3,278 people
Alva, FL
3,279 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Paw Paw's $38,989 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Slocomb, AL
$38,988 median income
Belle Vernon, PA
$38,992 median income
Jefferson, IN
$38,984 median income
Watterson Park, KY
$38,984 median income
Seymour, TX
$38,984 median income
Abbeville, SC
$38,983 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Paw Paw, 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, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 85.7% 11.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.1% White 85.7% Black or African American 2.0% Asian 0.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 11.3% 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 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 (this city) 3,277 $38,989
Blissfield 3,236 $62,386
Clare 3,341 $43,105
Essexville 3,344 $76,182
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Paw Paw, MI?

What is the population of Paw Paw, MI? +

3,277 people live in Paw Paw, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Paw Paw, the typical household earns $38,989 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Paw Paw? +

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

Paw Paw has a total crime rate of 4885.3 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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 Paw Paw, MI? +

The median home value in Paw Paw is $133,600, 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.