Muskegon, MI
Census place 2656320 · pop 37,226
A Lake Michigan port once dubbed the 'Lumber Queen of the World' during the 19th-century logging boom.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
49.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
22.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
5.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities
20.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities
$44,735 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities
24.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities
15.5% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities
34.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities
86.0% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
453 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
53.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
-1.1% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
2219 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities
Gini 0.46 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
11.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
4 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.03% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities
21 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
38 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities
61/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities
$142,300 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities
$1,172/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
Frequently asked
- Is Muskegon, MI a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Muskegon scores 36/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is adult obesity. Michigan overall ranks #42 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Muskegon, MI?
- Muskegon reports 453 violent crimes per 100k and 2219 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Muskegon, MI expensive to live in?
- Muskegon has a median home value of $142,300 and typical rent around $1,172/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Muskegon, MI?
- Its weakest measured area is adult obesity (49.9%) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Muskegon, MI best at?
- Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,172/mo) — 90/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: A Lake Michigan port once dubbed the 'Lumber Queen of the World' during the 19th-century logging boom.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.