Niles, MI

Census place 2657760 · pop 11,803

D−42/ 100
🫤 Rough
D−
in MI
📍 Michigan ranks #42 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$1,103/mo · top 8%
🚽 Jobs5.5% · bottom 7%
Taxes
1.12% property · US 0.99%6.00% sales · US 7.00%4.25% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.5%7

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

5.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Poor mental health19.9%12

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

19.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking18.0%13

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

18.0% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$51,37614

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$51,376 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Bachelor's degree or higher17.0%14

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

17.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult obesity40.5%17

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

40.5% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Violent crime rate476/100k18

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

476 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Poverty rate17.8%24

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

17.8% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Physical inactivity29.5%28

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

29.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Property crime rate1919/100k30

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

1919 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Broadband access89.4%33

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

89.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Property-tax burden1.12%43

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

1.12% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Homeownership63.2%48

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

63.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Uninsured adults8.9%57

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Commute time23 min58

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

23 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Air quality (AQI)County-level41 AQI62

U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities

41 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 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.

Population growth (5yr)+5.3%65

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+5.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Income inequality0.4166

U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities

Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level67/10078

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

67/100 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.

Housing cost$135,10090

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$135,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,103/mo92

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,103/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Frequently asked

Is Niles, MI a good place to live?
By the numbers, Niles scores 42/100 — 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 unemployment rate. 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 Niles, MI?
Niles reports 476 violent crimes per 100k and 1919 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Niles, MI expensive to live in?
Niles has a median home value of $135,100 and typical rent around $1,103/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Niles, MI?
Its weakest measured area is unemployment rate (5.5%) — 7/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
What is Niles, MI best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,103/mo) — 92/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.