© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Muskegon.
About
Life in Muskegon
Living in Muskegon means embracing a waterfront city with genuine Lake Michigan access and outdoor recreation built into daily life—Pere Marquette Beach is the largest free public beach on the eastern shore, and the Muskegon Lakeshore Bike Trail connects you to miles of scenic routes. That said, don't move here expecting year-round warmth; winters bring heavy lake-effect snow, and the humid continental climate means cold, snowy seasons are real. Housing is affordable compared to many Michigan cities, with median home values around $142,000 and median rent near $996, though median household income sits at $45,000, so it's a working-class economy.
Muskegon at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
24.9%
Foreign-Born
3.4%
Broadband Internet
86.0%
of households
Population Growth
0.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.4% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Muskegon: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Muskegon, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (44.4%), and 4.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.4%
of residents
65 and Older
14.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.5%
of households
Married Couples
27.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
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 12% below MI average
Rent, home values, and income in Muskegon
In Muskegon, rent runs 12% below the MI average, and home values are 39% below the MI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.9%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
30.6%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
92.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,468
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1951
median year built
Vacant Homes
13.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $191,113 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 2.7 pts above MI average
Unemployment in Muskegon
Unemployment in Muskegon is 2.7 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 Muskegon Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.6 min avg
How Muskegon residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Muskegon, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 4 mi
Muskegon County Airport (MKG)
Regional airport · few flights6,940 passengers boarded in 2025
- 85 mi
General Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
Medium hub2.9M passengers boarded in 2025
- 120 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M 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 69% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Muskegon runs 69% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
557.6
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,034.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Muskegon Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 6 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
70.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Muskegon County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Muskegon County, which includes Muskegon, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 6 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2024 | 5 | Hail | $510,000 |
| 2023 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $520,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | Winter Storm | $2,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | High Wind | $50,000 |
| 2020 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $6.6M |
| 2019 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $3.1M |
| 2018 | 3 | Funnel Cloud | $115,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Muskegon County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Muskegon County, which includes Muskegon, is typically good.
Median AQI
39
Muskegon County, county-wide
Climate80°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Muskegon has mild summers (avg high 80°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
56°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
80°/60°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
35°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.1"
Annual Snowfall
87.2"
Hot Days/Year
3
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
130
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
143
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 21°F | 2.42" |
| Feb | 35°F | 21°F | 2.11" |
| Mar | 44°F | 27°F | 2.40" |
| Apr | 57°F | 37°F | 3.47" |
| May | 68°F | 48°F | 3.38" |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 3.05" |
| Jul | 82°F | 62°F | 2.75" |
| Aug | 80°F | 61°F | 3.10" |
| Sep | 73°F | 54°F | 3.26" |
| Oct | 61°F | 43°F | 3.80" |
| Nov | 48°F | 34°F | 2.92" |
| Dec | 37°F | 26°F | 2.42" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Muskegon
Muskegon has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
6.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Trinity Health Grand Haven Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.3 mi away · Grand Haven
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.
Education16.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Muskegon
Muskegon's student/teacher ratio is 16.7:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 15.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
15.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Muskegon
Public · 2-year · 2,760 students · in-state tuition $7,600 · 22% graduate · median earnings $41,245 (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 Muskegon
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Public Libraries in Muskegon
Hackley Public Library
316 West Webster Avenue, Muskegon
Cities Near Muskegon
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Muskegon?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Muskegon FAQ
Is Muskegon, Michigan affordable?⌄
Muskegon's median rent is $996/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,735/year. Median home value is $142,300.
Is Muskegon, Michigan safe?⌄
Muskegon's violent crime rate was 558 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2035 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Muskegon, Michigan?⌄
Muskegon has an unemployment rate of 7.9%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Muskegon, Michigan?⌄
The cost of living in Muskegon is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $996/month and median household income is $44,735/year. The median home value is $142,300. About 51% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Muskegon, Michigan?⌄
The average commute in Muskegon is 21 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