City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Wellston, MI

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

425
Residents
$48,125
Median income
$109,800
Median home
$1,113
Median rent (state)
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See how it ranks

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

Place dossier plate

Sheet MI-WELLSTON-MI · Wellston, MI 425 pop · income 17th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-PAR · SAFE-UNK · RANK-BOTTOM · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-LOW · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 425
  • INC-MID $48,125
  • COL-PAR 96.2
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 17th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Russian Mission
  • HOME-LOW $109,800
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Russian Mission, AK (+ $0 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 Wellston

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Wellston 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 Wellston 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: 425.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $48,125. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Wellston - the verdict

Wellston ranks in the 17th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

17th
percentile, household income
13th
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: Wellston, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 425 residents in Wellston, a small town within Michigan. Median household income here is $48,125 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Wellston are valued around $109,800, and the median resident age is 34.4 years. Educational attainment runs 2.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 27.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 44.2°F with 38.0 inches of precipitation per year and 119.6 inches of snowfall.

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 $1,113 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Wellston report an average commute of 13.5 minutes, with 83.0% driving alone and 17.0% working from home. 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 Wellston'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 comparison shortlist to housing and income to climate and hazard context to work and mobility; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

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

1. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Wellston?

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 Hubbardston (418 residents, $61,667 income); Carsonville (433 residents, $55,313 income); Mesick (416 residents, $31,250 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Lake Hart, FL (425 residents); Camak, GA (425 residents); Andover, IL (425 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 →

2. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Wellston?

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. The ratio makes housing the clearest place to start this profile, but a low multiple can coexist with slow demand, older stock, or household-level hardship. Compare the home-value distribution and same-state peer table before treating it as an advantage.

The home-value-to-income reference is relatively compact: the ACS median home value is 2.3 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 0.0%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

3. Climate and hazard context

What physical conditions frame life in Wellston?

The two sources should not be blended into one comfort or safety score. Use the climate values for baseline conditions and the risk index as a prompt to inspect specific hazards, insurance, and local emergency guidance for a particular address.

NOAA normals put the annual mean temperature at 44.2°F, with 38.0 inches of precipitation and 119.6 inches of annual snowfall. FEMA's state-averaged National Risk Index score for Michigan is 49.6 out of 100. Climate normals describe long-run weather; the FEMA score on PlainCities is a state average of county NRI inputs and combines hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and resilience.

Read the source boundaries →

Question 4

What does the journey to work look like in Wellston?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 83.0%. The reported mean trip to work is 13.5 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

425 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$48,125 /yr

Low income · poverty 0.0% (Very low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

City profile score · Wellston, MI

45/100

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.

Poverty rate A+
0.0%

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

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 F
$48,125

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

Bachelor's+ share F
2.5%

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

Violent crime N/A
N/A

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

Wellston profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Poverty rate, Cost of living, Household income, Bachelor's+ share. Poverty rateCost of livingHousehold incomeBachelor's+ share 45 D
Wellston profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Poverty rate: 100/100 (A+) · 0.0%
  • Cost of living: 57/100 (C) · 96.2 index
  • Household income: 18/100 (F) · $48,125
  • Bachelor's+ share: 0/100 (F) · 2.5%

How does Wellston compare to other US cities?

Here's how Wellston stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 17% higher than other cities
Home value 13% 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 Wellston 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 Wellston near the bottom of Michigan's cities

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

Median Household Income
#555 of 718
23rd percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#526 of 721
27th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#661 of 727
0th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#717 of 727
1st 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.

17thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

17th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Wellston's home value compares nationally

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

$109,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 87% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Wellston $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

Wellston's home-value-to-income ratio: 2.3×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
affordable
< 3.0×
National rank
#2,854 of 15,516
More affordable than 82% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#2,643 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 2.3×, Wellston sits in the affordable band: national rank #2,854 of 15,516 and #2,643 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). 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

$48,125 Wellston, MI median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Wellston, MI Wellston, MI's median household income ($48,125) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Wellston, MI-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Wellston, MI median $48,125/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%
Wellston, 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 Wellston, MI.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 2.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 27.9%

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

Population
425
Median Income
$48,125
Median Home Value
$109,800
Median Age
34.4
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
27.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
2.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.2°F
Annual Precipitation
38.0"
Annual Snowfall
119.6"

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
13.5 minutes
Drive Alone
83.0%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
17.0%

Based on 100 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 Wellston. 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 Wellston 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 Wellston sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Wellston 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
Wellston (this city) 425 $48,125
Hubbardston 418 $61,667
Carsonville 433 $55,313
Mesick 416 $31,250
NOAA Normals
Primary sources on this page

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