City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

West Branch, MI

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

2,177
Residents
$40,078
Median income
$114,300
Median home
$989
Median rent (state)

West Branch - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, West Branch places in the 8th percentile for household income and the 88th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

8th
percentile, household income
15th
percentile, home value
19th
percentile, median rent
88th
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: West Branch, MI

Michigan's West Branch is a small town, with 2,177 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. West Branch households earn a median of $40,078 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 19.1%. Home values in West Branch run a median of $114,300, and the median resident age is 39.4 years. Educational attainment runs 21.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 39.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

West Branch reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 423.6 incidents per 100,000 residents, below the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $989 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $238 across Michigan, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 37.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

2,177 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$40,078 /yr

Poverty 19.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does West Branch compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 8% higher than other cities
Home value 15% pricier than other cities
Median rent 19% pricier than other cities
Safety 88% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Michigan alone, West Branch ranks #23 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Michigan-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places West Branch toward the top of Michigan's cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, West Branch ranks #84 - the 88th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares West Branch only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#661 of 718
8th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#555 of 727
23rd percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#504 of 721
30th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#84 of 727
88th 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.

8thIncome percentile
88thSafety percentile

8th percentile nationally for median household income · 88th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

West Branch's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

West Branch'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 60 Avg. percentile National median
West Branch'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 West Branch's home value compares nationally

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

$114,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 85% 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%). 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. West Branch $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 - West Branch, MI West Branch, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West Branch, 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 West Branch, MI median $40,078/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%
West Branch, 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 West Branch, 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) 19.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 39.5%

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

Population
2,177
Median Income
$40,078
Median Home Value
$114,300
Median Age
39.4
Poverty Rate
19.1%
Labor force participation
39.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
423.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
42.4
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
381.2
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
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
2,330 residents2,340 residents2,350 residents2,360 residents2,370 residents2,380 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,343 residents 2,370 residents ▲ +1.2%
West Branch's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.1%
Carpool
13.6%
Public Transit
1.6%
Walk
3.8%
Work from Home
2.0%
Other
0.9%

Based on 686 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 West Branch sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$989/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
37.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Lake Odessa
2,174 people
Bronson
2,183 people
Leslie
2,167 people
Cass City
2,189 people
Clio
2,165 people
Constantine
2,196 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Branch's 2,177 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Lakeview, CA
2,177 people
Fremont, IN
2,177 people
Montclair State University, NJ
2,177 people
Pecatonica, IL
2,178 people
Wilber, NE
2,178 people
Ontario, NY
2,176 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Branch's $40,078 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Craigsville, VA
$40,080 median income
Hayward, WI
$40,085 median income
Desert Edge, CA
$40,089 median income
Jameson, MO
$40,089 median income
Conway, NC
$40,089 median income
Meadow Bridge, WV
$40,089 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West Branch, 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 West Branch, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 88.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.4% White 88.5% Black or African American 1.8% Asian 4.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 4.5% 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 West Branch 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
West Branch (this city) 2,177 $40,078
Lake Odessa 2,174 $71,157
Bronson 2,183 $46,607
Leslie 2,167 $67,355
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Branch, MI?

What is the population of West Branch, MI? +

West Branch, MI has a population of 2,177 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in West Branch, MI? +

The median household income in West Branch is $40,078 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Branch? +

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

West Branch has a total crime rate of 423.6 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 West Branch, MI? +

Homes in West Branch carry a median value of $114,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.