City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Waverly, MI

Waverly's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

23,301
Residents
$75,868
Median income
$222,300
Median home
$1,113
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Waverly, MI - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Waverly.

Place dossier plate

Sheet MI-WAVERLY-MI · Waverly, MI 23,301 pop · income 57th pct · 23 tracts

POP-TOWN · INC-HIGH · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-MID · BOOK-MID

  • POP-TOWN 23,301
  • INC-HIGH $75,868
  • COL-PAR 96.2
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-MID 57th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Fort Rucker
  • HOME-MID $222,300
  • BOOK-MID 23 tracts

Nearest income peer: Fort Rucker, AL (+ $7 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Waverly

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Waverly on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Waverly on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 23,301.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $75,868. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Waverly - the verdict

Nationally, Waverly sits in the 57th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

57th
percentile, household income
49th
percentile, home value
32nd
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: Waverly, MI

23,301 people live in Waverly, Michigan - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $75,868 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.9%. Typical homes in Waverly are valued around $222,300, and the median resident age is 40.7 years. Educational attainment runs 43.9% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 62.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,113 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 15.3 minutes, with 68.9% driving alone and 17.6% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 49.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Waverly's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to comparison shortlist to within-city variation to work and mobility; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Waverly, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares, within-city Census tract profiles. No matched row is reported here for annual population history, FBI reported-crime rates, local building permits, matched public-school count; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Waverly?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Income and home value move within the same broad scale here. The useful next check is not a generic affordability label, but whether similar-size cities offer a materially different income, housing, or commute trade-off.

The home-value-to-income reference sits in a middle range: the ACS median home value is 2.9 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 6.9%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

2. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Waverly?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Michigan, the closest population matches are Wyandotte (24,593 residents, $67,846 income); Auburn Hills (24,911 residents, $78,727 income); Romulus (24,951 residents, $72,235 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Edgewater, FL (23,314 residents); Union Hill-Novelty Hill, WA (23,272 residents); Copiague, NY (23,332 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 3

What can 23 Census tracts reveal inside Waverly?

PlainCities matches 23 Census tracts to this city.

That layer breaks the citywide income, rent, and home-value medians into smaller Census geographies, which can reveal differences that one municipal median necessarily hides. A tract is a statistical area, not a locally defined neighborhood or a promise about conditions on a particular block. Start with the city profile for the broad comparison, then use the tract layer to test whether the same housing and income pattern is consistent across the city. Large within-city spreads are a reason to avoid treating any citywide median as a universal resident experience.

Explore Waverly's tract profiles →

Question 4

What does the journey to work look like in Waverly?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 68.9%. The reported mean trip to work is 15.3 minutes.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Compare commute patterns →

Population

23,301 residents

Small city (10k–49k)

Median Household Income

$75,868 /yr

Above median income · poverty 6.9% (Below-median poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

City profile score · Waverly, MI

59/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Bachelor's+ share B+
43.9%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Cost of living C
96.2 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Household income C
$75,868

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Poverty rate C-
6.9%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Waverly profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Bachelor's+ share, Cost of living, Household income, Poverty rate. Bachelor's+ shareCost of livingHousehold incomePoverty rate 59 C
Waverly profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Bachelor's+ share: 78/100 (B+) · 43.9%
  • Cost of living: 57/100 (C) · 96.2 index
  • Household income: 55/100 (C) · $75,868
  • Poverty rate: 53/100 (C-) · 6.9%

How does Waverly compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 57% higher than other cities
Home value 49% pricier than other cities
Median rent 32% 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 Waverly 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 places Waverly near the bottom of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Waverly ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Waverly only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#172 of 718
76th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#178 of 721
75th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#408 of 727
43rd percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#103 of 727
86th percentile in Michigan
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

57thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

57th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Waverly's home value compares nationally

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

$222,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 51% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Waverly $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

Waverly's home-value-to-income ratio: 2.9×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#6,307 of 15,516
More affordable than 59% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#812 of 3,317
Small cities (10,000–49,999)

At 2.9×, Waverly sits in the affordable band: national rank #6,307 of 15,516 and #812 of 3,317small cities (10,000–49,999). The multiple is comparatively compact among tracked cities, but a low ratio can still coexist with slow demand or household-level hardship.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$75,868 Waverly, MI median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Waverly, MI Waverly, MI's median household income ($75,868) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Waverly, MI-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Waverly, MI median $75,868/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%
Waverly, MI median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Waverly, MI.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 43.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.2%

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

Population
23,301
Median Income
$75,868
Median Home Value
$222,300
Median Age
40.7
Poverty Rate
6.9%
Labor force participation
62.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
43.9%

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.3 minutes
Drive Alone
68.9%
Carpool
10.3%
Public Transit
1.0%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
17.6%
Other
1.3%

Based on 12,105 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Michigan statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $238

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Michigan at $238 (electricity about $105 , water and sewer about $48 ).

These are Michigan statewide averages, not a meter reading for Waverly. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Michigan's BEA cost-of-living index is 96.2 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Waverly is $1,113/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Michigan statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 49.6 / 100 (Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Michigan statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Waverly sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Waverly compares to similar-size Michigan cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Waverly (this city) 23,301 $75,868
Wyandotte 24,593 $67,846
Auburn Hills 24,911 $78,727
Romulus 24,951 $72,235
Primary sources on this page

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.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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