City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Williamston, MI

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

3,800
Residents
$73,902
Median income
$215,000
Median home
$1,268
Median rent (state)

Williamston - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Williamston lands in the 55th percentile for household income and the 92nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

55th
percentile, household income
47th
percentile, home value
42nd
percentile, median rent
92nd
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: Williamston, MI

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 3,800 residents in Williamston, a small town within Michigan. Median household income here is $73,902 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.6%. Typical homes in Williamston are valued around $215,000, and the median resident age is 40.0 years. About 46.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 64.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 4 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Building Boom), up 100% from five years earlier. Williamston reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 319.3 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,268 per month. 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 87.2 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

3,800 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$73,902 /yr

Poverty 1.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Williamston compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 55% higher than other cities
Home value 47% pricier than other cities
Median rent 42% pricier than other cities
Safety 92% 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, Williamston ranks #11 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 Williamston 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 Williamston toward the top of Michigan's cities

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

Median Household Income
#187 of 718
74th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#217 of 727
66th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#188 of 721
74th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#629 of 727
13th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#88 of 727
88th 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
92ndSafety percentile

55th percentile nationally for median household income · 92nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Williamston's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Williamston'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 68 Avg. percentile National median
Williamston'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 Williamston's home value compares nationally

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

$215,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 53% 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%). 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. Williamston $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 - Williamston, MI Williamston, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Williamston, 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 Williamston, MI median $73,902/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%
Williamston, 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 Williamston, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 46.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.4%

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

Population
3,800
Median Income
$73,902
Median Home Value
$215,000
Median Age
40.0
Poverty Rate
1.6%
Labor force participation
64.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
46.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
319.3
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
53.2
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
266.1
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 →
3,760 residents3,780 residents3,800 residents3,820 residents 202020212022202320242025 3,800 residents 3,810 residents ▲ +0.3%
Williamston's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
4
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 0
2021 7
2022 2
2023 5
2024 4

Permit volume increased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
78.2%
Carpool
5.6%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
1.6%
Work from Home
14.6%

Based on 1,825 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 Williamston sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,268/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
87.2 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Paw Paw Lake
3,794 people
Portland
3,821 people
Vicksburg
3,824 people
Boyne City
3,829 people
Plainwell
3,764 people
Imlay City
3,706 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Williamston's 3,800 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Montgomery, NY
3,800 people
Pocono Woodland Lakes, PA
3,800 people
Boonsboro, MD
3,799 people
Bluffton, OH
3,799 people
Bunker Hill, TX
3,801 people
Lake Sarasota, FL
3,802 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Williamston's $73,902 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Keensburg, IL
$73,906 median income
Clermont, IA
$73,906 median income
Tribune, KS
$73,906 median income
Stewartsville, MO
$73,906 median income
Catskill, NY
$73,906 median income
Schulter, OK
$73,906 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Williamston, 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 Williamston, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.6% White 94.8% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.5% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 3.9% 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 Williamston 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
Williamston (this city) 3,800 $73,902
Paw Paw Lake 3,794 $65,360
Portland 3,821 $65,116
Vicksburg 3,824 $70,070
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Williamston, MI?

What is the population of Williamston, MI? +

Williamston, MI counts 3,800 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Williamston, the typical household earns $73,902 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Williamston? +

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

Williamston has a total crime rate of 319.3 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 Williamston, MI? +

A typical home in Williamston is worth $215,000, 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.