City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Swartz Creek, MI

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

5,856
Residents
$73,862
Median income
$168,900
Median home
$1,033
Median rent (state)

Swartz Creek - the verdict

Nationally, Swartz Creek sits in the 55th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

55th
percentile, household income
33rd
percentile, home value
22nd
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: Swartz Creek, MI

5,856 people live in Swartz Creek, Michigan - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $73,862 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.1%. Swartz Creek's housing stock carries a median value of $168,900, and the median resident age is 45.8 years. Educational attainment runs 21.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 6 residential building permits were authorized in Swartz Creek (Building Boom), up 200% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,033 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 92.2 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

5,856 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$73,862 /yr

Poverty 5.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Swartz Creek compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 55% higher than other cities
Home value 33% pricier than other cities
Median rent 22% 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 Swartz Creek 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 sits close to the middle of Michigan's city distribution

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Swartz Creek ranks #467 - the 34th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Swartz Creek only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#188 of 718
74th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#467 of 727
34th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#306 of 721
58th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#472 of 727
35th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#318 of 727
56th 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.

55thIncome percentile

55th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Swartz Creek's home value compares nationally

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

$168,900 Among the most affordable more affordable than 67% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Swartz Creek $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 - Swartz Creek, MI Swartz Creek, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Swartz Creek, 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 Swartz Creek, MI median $73,862/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%
Swartz Creek, 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 Swartz Creek, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.7%

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

Population
5,856
Median Income
$73,862
Median Home Value
$168,900
Median Age
45.8
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Labor force participation
54.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,820 residents5,840 residents5,860 residents5,880 residents5,900 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,886 residents 5,827 residents ▼ -1.0%
Swartz Creek's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
6
housing units authorized
Single-Family
6
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 6
2021 10
2022 6
2023 3
2024 6

Permit volume increased 200% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
83.6%
Carpool
3.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
12.1%

Based on 2,665 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 Swartz Creek sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,033/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
92.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Petoskey
5,851 people
Richmond
5,839 people
Buena Vista
5,904 people
Belding
5,949 people
Houghton Lake
5,761 people
Holly
5,971 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Swartz Creek's 5,856 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bartonville, IL
5,854 people
Harris Hill, NY
5,853 people
Steele Creek, AK
5,861 people
Rincon Valley, AZ
5,851 people
Belmar, NJ
5,861 people
Woodstock, VA
5,851 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Swartz Creek's $73,862 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Thedford, NE
$73,867 median income
Grandview, OK
$73,867 median income
Oxford, IA
$73,869 median income
Talladega Springs, AL
$73,854 median income
Gulf Shores, AL
$73,873 median income
Casanova, PA
$73,850 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Swartz Creek, 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 Swartz Creek, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.2% White 93.1% Black or African American 1.3% Asian 1.1% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.4% Two or more races 4.1% 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 Swartz Creek 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
Swartz Creek (this city) 5,856 $73,862
Petoskey 5,851 $71,783
Richmond 5,839 $61,715
Buena Vista 5,904 $38,835
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Swartz Creek, MI?

What is the population of Swartz Creek, MI? +

The population of Swartz Creek, MI stands at 5,856 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Swartz Creek, MI? +

The median household income in Swartz Creek is $73,862 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Swartz Creek? +

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

Homes in Swartz Creek carry a median value of $168,900, 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.