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Living in
Escanaba.
About
Life in Escanaba
Escanaba is a community of 12,374 people in Michigan. The median household income is $45,369, median rent runs about $661 per month, and median home values are around $125,200. The unemployment rate is 6.5%.
Escanaba at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.7%
Foreign-Born
1.6%
Broadband Internet
84.9%
of households
Population Growth
-1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics1.6% foreign-born, most often from Afghanistan
Who lives in Escanaba: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Escanaba, the largest foreign-born group is from Afghanistan (24.2%), and 0.4% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.2%
of residents
65 and Older
23.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
20.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
44.9%
of households
Married Couples
33.6%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.06
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 42% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Escanaba
In Escanaba, rent runs 42% below the MI average, and home values are 46% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
30.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.6%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$1,843
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
63.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1952
median year built
Vacant Homes
11.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $185,064 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.3 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Escanaba
Unemployment in Delta County, which includes Escanaba, is 1.3 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
Escanaba: Delta County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Delta County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Escanaba Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute11 min avg
How Escanaba residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Escanaba, most residents drive alone to work (77%), and 94% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Delta County Airport (ESC)
Regional airport · few flights17k 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 6% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Escanaba runs 6% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
309.8
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,483.6
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Escanaba Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 12 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
53.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Delta County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Delta County, which includes Escanaba, the most common type is winter weather, with 12 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | Winter Storm | $101,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Winter Weather | $19,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Winter Weather | $45,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Winter Weather | $68,000 |
| 2021 | 16 | Winter Weather | $188,500 |
| 2020 | 18 | Winter Weather | $187,000 |
| 2019 | 22 | Winter Weather | $121,000 |
| 2018 | 19 | Winter Weather | $2,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Delta County, county-wide
Air Quality38 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Door County, WI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 45 miles from Escanaba) is typically good — 170 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
38
Good Days
170
per year
Moderate Days
27
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Door County, WI (45 mi away)
Climate74°F summers, 11°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Escanaba has mild summers (avg high 74°F) and very cold winters (avg low 11°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
48°/29°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
74°/54°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
55°/38°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
28°/11°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
28.8"
Annual Snowfall
46.9"
Hot Days/Year
2
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
176
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
120
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°F | 8°F | 1.18" |
| Feb | 28°F | 8°F | 1.03" |
| Mar | 37°F | 18°F | 1.64" |
| Apr | 47°F | 29°F | 2.34" |
| May | 60°F | 41°F | 3.32" |
| Jun | 71°F | 51°F | 3.45" |
| Jul | 77°F | 56°F | 2.90" |
| Aug | 76°F | 55°F | 2.99" |
| Sep | 68°F | 49°F | 3.21" |
| Oct | 55°F | 37°F | 3.06" |
| Nov | 42°F | 27°F | 2.35" |
| Dec | 31°F | 16°F | 1.37" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Escanaba
Escanaba has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Osf St Francis Hospital and Medical Group
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
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.
Education19.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Escanaba
Escanaba's student/teacher ratio is 19.2:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
19.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
19.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Escanaba
Public · 2-year · 1,223 students · in-state tuition $5,880 · 38% graduate · median earnings $41,973 (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: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, 67 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Escanaba
Escanaba has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (67 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
67 mi awaySleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
National Lakeshore
76 mi awayPublic Libraries in Escanaba
Escanaba Public Library
400 Ludington Street, Escanaba
Cities Near Escanaba
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Escanaba?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Escanaba FAQ
Is Escanaba, Michigan affordable?⌄
Escanaba's median rent is $657/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $45,369/year. Median home value is $125,200.
Is Escanaba, Michigan safe?⌄
Escanaba's violent crime rate was 310 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is close to the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1484 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Escanaba, Michigan?⌄
Delta County, which includes Escanaba, has an unemployment rate of 6.5%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Escanaba, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Escanaba is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $657/month and median household income is $45,369/year. The median home value is $125,200. About 31% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Escanaba, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Escanaba is 11 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