© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Mount Pleasant.
About
Life in Mount Pleasant
Living in Mount Pleasant means accepting that you're moving to a college town where Central Michigan University's 20,000 students essentially double the permanent population each fall—which shapes everything from the rental market to weekend energy to the overall vibe. The cost of living is genuinely affordable compared to Michigan's larger metros: median rent sits around $922 a month and median home values hover near $173,000, which matters when you're thinking long-term stability. The job market is respectable with unemployment at 7.7% and a median household income around $45,000, though your actual opportunities will depend heavily on whether you work in education, healthcare, tribal gaming (the Soaring Eagle Casino is a major regional employer), or have a flexible remote setup.
Mount Pleasant at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
23.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
31.4%
Foreign-Born
5.6%
Broadband Internet
77.2%
of households
Population Growth
-3.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.6% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Mount Pleasant: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Mount Pleasant, the largest foreign-born group is from India (13.2%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
10.8%
of residents
65 and Older
9.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
16.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
42.1%
of households
Married Couples
23.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.08
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 18% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Mount Pleasant
In Mount Pleasant, rent runs 18% below the MI average, and home values are 25% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
28.5%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,148
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
35.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1976
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.9%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $226,557 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.5 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Mount Pleasant
Unemployment in Mount Pleasant is 2.5 percentage points higher than the MI average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Mount Pleasant Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute15 min avg
How Mount Pleasant residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Mount Pleasant, most residents drive alone to work (61%), and 84% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 34 mi
MBS International Airport (MBS)
Regional airport · few flights116k passengers boarded in 2025
- 119 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 28% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Mount Pleasant runs 28% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
420.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,198.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Mount Pleasant Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 1 event in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
66.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Isabella County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Isabella County, which includes Mount Pleasant, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 1 recorded event in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 2 | Winter Storm | $75,000 |
| 2023 | 2 | Winter Storm | $200,000 |
| 2022 | 4 | Flood | $175,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $161,000 |
| 2020 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $145,000 |
| 2019 | 6 | Heavy Snow | $1.1M |
| 2018 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $245,000 |
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
Isabella County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Bay County, MI (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 40 miles from Mount Pleasant) is typically good — 252 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
252
per year
Moderate Days
103
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Bay County, MI (40 mi away)
Climate82°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Mount Pleasant has warm summers (avg high 82°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
82°/59°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
60°/41°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
32°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.5"
Annual Snowfall
39.3"
Hot Days/Year
13
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
146
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
131
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 16°F | 2.11" |
| Feb | 32°F | 17°F | 1.72" |
| Mar | 43°F | 24°F | 1.95" |
| Apr | 56°F | 34°F | 3.57" |
| May | 69°F | 46°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 3.87" |
| Jul | 84°F | 61°F | 3.22" |
| Aug | 82°F | 59°F | 3.84" |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 2.82" |
| Oct | 60°F | 41°F | 3.52" |
| Nov | 46°F | 31°F | 2.79" |
| Dec | 35°F | 22°F | 2.35" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
8.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Mclaren Central Michigan
Acute Care 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.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 42.9% 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
42.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Mount Pleasant
Public · 4-year · 10,035 students · in-state tuition $15,420 · 62% graduate · median earnings $59,879 (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 & Recreation
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Mount Pleasant
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Mount Pleasant
Chippewa River District Library System
301 South University, Mount Pleasant
Cities Near Mount Pleasant
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Mount Pleasant?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Mount Pleasant FAQ
Is Mount Pleasant, Michigan affordable?⌄
Mount Pleasant's median rent is $922/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,706/year. Median home value is $173,100.
Is Mount Pleasant, Michigan safe?⌄
Mount Pleasant's violent crime rate was 420 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1199 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Mount Pleasant, Michigan?⌄
Mount Pleasant has an unemployment rate of 7.7%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Mount Pleasant, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Mount Pleasant is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $922/month and median household income is $44,706/year. The median home value is $173,100. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Mount Pleasant, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Mount Pleasant is 15 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