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Living in
Ann Arbor.
About
Life in Ann Arbor
If you're thinking about moving to Ann Arbor, prepare for a city where the University of Michigan isn't just a landmark—it's woven into nearly everything, from the job market to downtown development to the intellectual energy you'll feel walking around. The university employs about 30,000 people directly, but more importantly, it's created an economy built on high-tech startups, medical research, biotech, and companies like Google, Cisco-owned Duo Security, and KLA Corporation that use the university's research momentum as a springboard. That means the job market is strong (unemployment sits at 3.5%), though it also means your professional network will be entangled with academic culture whether you're in tech, healthcare, or business.
Ann Arbor at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
27.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
23.8%
Foreign-Born
18.6%
Broadband Internet
93.9%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics18.6% foreign-born, most often from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan
Who lives in Ann Arbor: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Ann Arbor, the largest foreign-born group is from China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (21.0%), and 5.5% of residents speak Chinese at home.
Under 18
12.4%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
17.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.3%
of households
Married Couples
35.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.19
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 46% above MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Ann Arbor
In Ann Arbor, rent runs 46% above the MI average, and home values are 96% above the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
56.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
35.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,636
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
45.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $517,346 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.7 pts below MI average
Unemployment in Ann Arbor and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Ann Arbor is 1.7 percentage points lower than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Ann Arbor Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Ann Arbor, MI metro area
Commute20 min avg
How Ann Arbor residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Ann Arbor, most residents drive alone to work (43%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 21 mi
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Major hub16.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 10% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Ann Arbor runs 10% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
296.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,706
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Ann Arbor Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
89.3 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Washtenaw County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Washtenaw County, which includes Ann Arbor, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $2,500 |
| 2024 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $9.0M |
| 2022 | 3 | High Wind | None reported |
| 2021 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8.0M |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $802,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $500 |
| 2018 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10.0M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
2 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Washtenaw County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washtenaw County, which includes Ann Arbor, is typically good — 253 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
253
per year
Moderate Days
104
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Washtenaw County, county-wide
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Ann Arbor has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
58°/35°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/57°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
62°/39°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
34°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.9"
Annual Snowfall
59.3"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
163
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 16°F | 2.84" |
| Feb | 35°F | 16°F | 2.42" |
| Mar | 45°F | 25°F | 2.76" |
| Apr | 58°F | 34°F | 3.34" |
| May | 70°F | 46°F | 3.79" |
| Jun | 80°F | 56°F | 4.25" |
| Jul | 84°F | 59°F | 3.85" |
| Aug | 82°F | 58°F | 3.34" |
| Sep | 75°F | 50°F | 2.98" |
| Oct | 62°F | 39°F | 2.93" |
| Nov | 48°F | 30°F | 2.73" |
| Dec | 36°F | 22°F | 2.64" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
2.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.5 / 5
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available
University of Michigan Health System
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.1 mi away · Ann Arbor
Forest Health Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · 7.1 mi away · Ypsilanti
The Center for Forensic Psychiatry
Psychiatric · 7.5 mi away · Saline
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 77.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
32
within city limits
Private Schools
13
within city limits
College Degree Rate
77.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Ann Arbor
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Public · 4-year · 34,177 students · in-state tuition $18,346 · 94% graduate · median earnings $92,832 (10 yrs after entry)
Concordia University Ann Arbor
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 702 students · in-state tuition $36,260 · 60% graduate · median earnings $61,992 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 10,055 students · in-state tuition $17,004 · 54% graduate · median earnings $55,390 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: River Raisin National Battlefield Park, 31 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being River Raisin National Battlefield Park (31 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
River Raisin National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
31 mi awayPerry's Victory & International Peace Memorial
Memorial
64 mi awayPublic Libraries in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor District Library
343 South Fifth Avenue, Ann Arbor
Malletts Creek Branch Library
3090 East Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor
Traverwood Branch Library
3333 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor
Westgate Branch Library
2503 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor
Cities Near Ann Arbor
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Ann Arbor?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Ann Arbor FAQ
Is Ann Arbor, Michigan affordable?⌄
Ann Arbor's median rent is $1,649/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $82,212/year. Median home value is $453,400.
Is Ann Arbor, Michigan safe?⌄
Ann Arbor's violent crime rate was 297 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1706 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Ann Arbor, Michigan?⌄
Ann Arbor has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Ann Arbor, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Ann Arbor is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,649/month and median household income is $82,212/year. The median home value is $453,400. About 57% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Ann Arbor, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Ann Arbor is 20 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from